On Wednesday night, the Atletico Madrid defender looked nothing like the unassuming youngster who moved to the Etihad Stadium in 2011.
Stefan Savic had few friends at Manchester City before his contentious performance for Atletico Madrid in the Champions League's two-legged quarter-final.
The contrast between the bashful, fresh-faced 20-year-old who arrived at Etihad Stadium in 2011 and the growling, menacing boss who arrived this week could not be greater.
When Savic joined City from Partizan Belgrade more than a decade ago, there was a hint of the player he would become, but nothing compared to the terrifying henchman who now leads the Spanish champions.