Queens Park Rangers manager Harry Redknapp once signed Paolo Di Canio as a player but will hope his friend makes a losing start to his managerial reign at struggling Sunderland as the battle to avoid Premier League relegation hots up.
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Italian Di Canio, who enjoyed a great relationship with Redknapp at West Ham United between 1999 and 2001, could deliver a huge blow to his old boss's chances of keeping QPR up if he can inspire Sunderland to a surprise win at Chelsea and Rangers lose at home to Wigan Athletic.
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"I know Harry looks back fondly at his time with Paolo. They still speak and share a love of football,"
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Redknapp's son Jamie, the former Liverpool midfielder, wrote in a lively Daily Mail article describing some of Di Canio's antics.
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Flamboyant Di Canio often made headlines as a player at West Ham and elsewhere and his appointment has stirred controversy because of his "I am a fascist" remark he made eight years ago.
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On Wednesday he rowed back from that stance saying: "I do not support the ideology of fascism. I respect everyone. I am a football man. This and my family are my focus."
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Di Canio will take charge of his first game as a Premier League manager on Sunday hoping to galvanise a side who have slipped into the relegation battle.
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The fear of demotion to the Championship (second division) is still a threat to the bottom nine clubs from Southampton in 12th place on 34 points down through Stoke City (34), Norwich City (34), Newcastle United (33), Sunderland (31), Wigan (30), Aston Villa (30), QPR (23) and Reading (23).
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QPR host perennial relegation escapologists Wigan on Sunday while Di Canio will try and inspire a major upset against fourth-placed Chelsea by ending Sunderland's run of eight matches without a win – a statistic that cost Martin O'Neill his job.
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They have shocked Chelsea before in the recent past, winning 3-0 there in November 2010, and while a win is unlikely Chelsea could be tiring with so many games piling on top of one another.
Harry Redknapp needs to focus on his club and ensure they end the season well. Otherwise, he might be sacked