Say what you like about Steve McNamara, and many have throughout his coaching career, but there can be no denying his ability to land plum jobs.
He has coached Bradford Bulls, England (for five years) and enjoyed spells as an assistant at NRL outfits Sydney Roosters and the New Zealand Warriors.
Now he has secured a two-and-a-half-year deal as the new boss of Catalans Dragons.
Although the Perpignan-based outfit are currently languishing in the lower reaches of Super League, it can be argued the post is one of the best in the competition.
Consider the lifestyle in the south of France; the nearby beaches at Canet Plage, the stability of the club and the ambition that pulses around the boardroom.
If McNamara can emulate the success that Trent Robinson enjoyed with the Dragons – and indeed surpass it by actually winning something – he would become a legend at the Stade Gilbert Brutus.
McNamara divides opinion following his mixed spells in charge of Bradford and England.
Yet his drive and ambition to reach the top have been there from an early age.
🇬🇧 Steve McNamara appointed new headcoach
After a playing career which included spells at Hull, Bradford, Wakefield and Huddersfield and earned him international honours with Great Britain, McNamara began working his way up the coaching ladder.
He coached Bradford's academy side to Grand Final success in his first year in charge and then succeeded Brian Noble in the top job at Odsal in April 2006.
At the time he was the youngest coach in Britain but his Bradford reign saw him presided over several unwanted records.
Such as being the first Bulls coach in Super League to fail to guide his team to the end of season play-offs and being in charge for the worst losing streak the club had seen in 20 years.
Nevertheless, his desire to nurture young players was evident and Sam Burgess burst onto the scene to become a Super League star under McNamara’s watch.
As the Bulls fell into decline, though, McNamara left and took over as England coach in 2010.
McNamara established a training base for his squad at Loughborough University, formed an England Knights squad to supplement the elite squad and was not afraid to court controversy in his selection.
He picked New Zealand-born Rangi Chase ahead of Danny Brough but perhaps later regretted that.
McNamara was big on unity and fostered a better environment in the England camp after a rift between the Leeds and St Helens players was partly blamed for the disastrous 2008 World Cup performance.
McNamara delved into other sports in search of new ideas and forged links with Stuart Pearce, Roy Hodgson, Sir Alex Ferguson, Martin Johnson and Stuart Lancaster.
Some felt he should have gone after England’s World Cup campaign on home soil in 2013.
When McNamara finally won a series after England beat New Zealand 2-1 in 2015, he was shown the door and replaced by Wayne Bennett.
Yet he has kept reinventing himself and, after working with former Catalans boss Robinson at the Roosters, he joined Stephen Kearney at the Auckland-based Warriors.
Having been linked with the Hull KR job before Tim Sheens was appointed, the door has now opened for McNamara to return to Super League.
His first game in charge will be at Warrington on Saturday as he bids to kickstart an upturn in form following a dismal run of one win in nine games.
Jerome Guisset and Michael Monaghan, who have been in temporary charge since Laurent Frayssinous was shown the door last month, will serve as McNamara’s assistants.
Rugby league, collectively, should wish McNamara well as he embarks on a challenge that could perhaps define his coaching career.
