Robbie Benson says he was only too happy to follow Stephen O'Donnell back to Dundalk.
The 29-year old has returned to Oriel Park, having left the club for St. Patrick's Athletic two years ago.
The playmaker spent four successful seasons at Dundalk, winning three League titles.
Benson added an FAI Cup-winners medal to his collection last month, under O'Donnell, scoring the decisive penalty in their shootout win over Bohemians at the Aviva.
"When I started my career, Stephen was a big influence on me as a player and he helped me along the way," Benson told DundalkFC.com, "He is someone I look up to and I appreciate the involvement he has had on my career.
“He was great for me at St Pat’s and now that he has decided to come to Dundalk, I weighed up what I wanted to do, I looked at the project he wants to help build here, and I’m really looking forward to it.
“Dave is someone who also has a very good reputation within the game and I know [coach] Padge [Cregg] well from my time at Pat’s. His enthusiasm rubs off on everyone and he gives 100% every day.”
Benson returns to a club for whom he made 141 appearances in his original spell, and scored three crucial European goals.
His signing comes just 24-hours after star striker Pat Hoban put pen-to-paper on a new long-term deal with Dundalk.
"It's great to be back," said Benson.
“When I walked into Oriel Park to sign the contract, all of the old memories from my first spell here came back and I’m looking forward to replicating that again.“When I left here the first time around I felt I had done all I could with the group that was there. I just wanted something new. Coming back, it’s a fresh start. The club has new owners, who look ambitious, new management and new players to a big degree. I can’t wait to get going again.“I think I’ve learned a lot about the game in the last two years and I’m coming back a better player and as hungry as I ever was to succeed.”
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