Dickson Etuhu believes Fulham's remarkable run to the UEFA Europa League Final in 2010 has resulted in a hightened level of respect amongst European opposition this season.
2010 provided Etuhu with memories to cherish forever, both for Fulham and Nigeria at the 2010 World Cup Finals, but the midfielder is well aware that Fulham's past successes will make the competition even tougher this time round.
“I definitely still think about it," said Etuhu of Fulham's 2010 European campaign. "No one expected us to get to the Final – especially the route we took, playing against some of the top European teams.
"It was a great moment in time that everybody will remember at the Football Club and obviously the players as well.
“I’ve actually got Forlan’s shirt form the Final. I got that framed and signed and I’ve also got some pictures to go with it. In my career that Europa League run and playing in the World Cup were the best moments.
“It’s going to be harder for us now in Europe because teams respect us more because of what we did last time - so they going to come well prepared and take us more seriously. Last time around people didn’t give us any respect and we took advantage of that.”
Etuhu's career in professional sports could have taken a very different route in athletics and the Fulham man is evidently thankful for taking up a second offer of a trial at Manchester City in his formative years.
“Shawn Wright-Phillips is a good friend of mine and when they used to go and play Sunday League football I used to go with them sometimes. One day Manchester City watched me play and wanted me to go up there for a trial and I was like, ‘no thanks’. They invited me again and I went.
“I started football really late, at about 15 or 16. I represented my county and my school at athletics and it was exciting but I wasn’t too sure which event I really liked. I was good at field events like long jump and triple jump and it was exciting times.
"I’m still shocked to be a footballer really. I’m so happy to be a footballer I don’t really thing about what I could have been. It’s amazing that I switched sports at such a late time."