At a time when several Socceroos are embarking on the next chapter of their career or still searching for a new club, Ange Postecoglou has held up Valencia goalkeeper Mathew Ryan as an example to aspire to.
The 23-year-old shot-stopper has enjoyed a meteoric rise in recent years, winning the Hyundai A-League with the Central Coast Mariners and then the Belgian Cup at Club Brugge, as well as playing in the FIFA World Cup and lifting the AFC Asian Cup for Australia.
Ryan earned a move to La Liga powerhouse Valencia last month and, in the absence of injured number one Diego Alves, is due to start for Los Che in a crucial UEFA Champions League play-off at home to Monaco on Wednesday night.
He'll also be expected to do the business for the national team in World Cup qualifiers against Bangladesh and Tajikistan next month, with Postecoglou hailing the youngster's shrewd choices to date upon unveiling his latest squad.
"It's great for Maty," the head coach said of Ryan's latest transfer.
"He's made some really intelligent decisions in terms of his career and he's backed that up with performances, whether that's with the national team or at club level.
"He's consistently been the best in his trade wherever he's played, whether that's in the A-League or in Belgium."
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Should Ryan indeed start the new campaign between the sticks for Valencia, Postecoglou backed him to prove his worth yet again, and wants the custodian's green and gold colleagues to try and emulate his progress.
"He deserves this opportunity now," he said.
"It's up to him (now). Every time somebody gives him an opportunity he excels and that includes the national team. It's great to have another player playing at the highest possible level.
"We've probably got half a dozen guys now within this group who are playing at a higher level this year than they were last year. Hopefully that continues."
One player with more reason than many to look up to Ryan is fellow goalkeeper Alex Cisak, who was forced to swap Burnley for League Two side Leyton Orient in search of regular action.
Three years Ryan's junior, the Polish-born former Young Socceroo from Tasmania has been included in the latest senior squad, but a first cap for Australia remains some way off.
"It's about an opportunity for a guy who's been on the fringes," Postecoglou said of the surprise call-up.
"We've been monitoring [him] for a while. He's playing first-team football, he's started strongly.
"We'll see how he fits in and we'll go from there."
