ABSTRACT. Identified more than 20 years ago in the growing amount of mammalian genome data, neuroglobin (Ngb) was the first „novel“ member of the metazoan globin gene family besides the well-known hemo- and myoglobins. Its discovery started a world-wide and successful search for additional members of the globin family with novel expression sites and functions, namely cytoglobin, androglobin and globin X. Importantly, the Ngb discovery initiated a multitude of successful (and pleasant!) scientific collaborations between workers in the globin field and beyond. Ironically, despite its early identification in 1999 and its evolutionary conservation along large parts of the metazoan phylogenetic tree, the molecular function(s) of Ngb in vivo are not yet entirely understood. With more than 740 citations in PubMed, it is meanwhile difficult, if not impossible to review all aspects of Ngb biology. We will therefore focus on aspects of Ngb research which may guide future research on this gene/protein, with the aim to ultimately promote this still somewhat adolescent (globin) family member to a respected (i.e. textbook-ready) adult.