As role models go, there aren't many better in football, especially for those more defensively minded. So when new Middlesbrough recruit Alfie Jones namechecked Virgil van Dijk as a big influence on his career, it's something taking note of.
A young Jones first broke into the first-team ranks at Southampton during the Dutch defender's time at St Mary's. He's gone on to win the Premier League twice with the Liverpool, as well as the Champions League and a raft of accolades at Anfield.
He's now considered one of the best central defenders in world football, and is a player Jones has followed closely ever since those days on the south coast.
The Boro defender told the Football League Paper: "Watching Virgil is something I've carried with my whole career. I was at that age where I was starting to be in the first-team environment and to see a player like that - the way he trained, the way he saw the game - was the ultimate eye-opener. I was like, 'OK that is the standard'.
"He just made everything look so easy. He was always in the right position at the right time. He always read exactly what would happen. Even now, you very rarely see him need to break out into a sprint. It's funny because, if you look at the numbers, he doesn't win many duels. He doesn't win too many headers, doesn't make too many tackles.
"But that's kind of the point. Because of his anticipation, he hardly ever puts himself in a position where he has to defend one-v-one. So instead of making tackles, he's making passes. Instead of winning duels, he's there to head it away unchallenged.
"On top of that, he's so quick and powerful that nobody can beat him in a one-v-one anyway. He's an incredible player and it was a brilliant experience to watch him work day in and day out. It's just frustrating I couldn't quite make that step up to play alongside him."
Jones is excited by the future at Boro, with the Teessiders off to an impressive start in the Championship under Edwards.
"From the outside looking in, Middlesbrough are a club that are always pushing for promotion, always in and around those top six places," he added.
"I'm looking around this place and we've got everything we need to stop just bumping around the top half and achieve something special."