PK Banerjee wore his greatness lightly and he inculcated that attribute in his pupils, according to former India captain Bhaichung Bhutia, who called him the "Guardian Angel" of Indian football.
The legendary player died in Kolkata on Friday after battling prolonged illness. He was 83.
Tributes poured in from all quarters after the announcement of his death.
Bhutia, one of Banerjee's brightest disciples, recalled the days he learned under his tutelage.
"What I felt truly great about the man was that he was not only a good player and a coach, but also a great human being," Bhutia wrote in a column for the AIFF.
"Off the pitch, he would always give us guidance on how to conduct ourselves. He taught us how to stay humble even when you get all the media attention that comes with playing at the top level at the Kolkata Maidan."
"However, PK-da in his inimitable way took the pressure off our shoulders. You must realise, that playing in front of a one lakh thirty thousand odd crowd. As a youngster it wasn't easy. But he shielded us all from that pressure. He allowed us a clear mind on the day, as in all matches."
"But not everyone was aware of how to use that ability to your advantage, and how to synchronise that with the rest of your teammates and execute the strategies on the pitch. All of that were taught to us by PK-da."