Craig Gardner is delighted he swapped Aston Villa for boyhood idols Birmingham City.
The midfielder has come of age under boss Alex McLeish and his performances have led to whispers of England recognition.
Not that the down-to-earth Blues boy is getting carried away by that talk.
He told The Sun: "It's been a brilliant move. I didn't even have to move home, which was great because I love Birmingham as a city.
"I've enjoyed every minute. There's no big-time Charlies. We're all friends.
"I wasn't playing regularly at Villa but nor was I going in to training feeling unhappy. I was still doing what I wanted to do. Martin O'Neill, my last manager there, looked after me. He told me Birmingham were interested.
"I said 'If the deal's right for the club, please let me go. If it's not right, I don't want to go anywhere else'. I explained it was my dream move.
"I was on the phone to my agent every day, saying 'Any news?' He'd pick up the phone, swear at me and say 'Just calm down'.
"One minute I was a fringe player at Villa, the next a £3.5m signing for the Blues."
