Dario Gradi
FameRank: 6

"Dario Gradi" Order of the British Empire/MBE is an Italy/Italian-born English association football/football coach (sports)/manager and former player. He has been associated for more than 30 years with Crewe Alexandra F.C./Crewe Alexandra, with whom he is currently the Director of Football and also Director of the Crewe Alexandra F.C. Academy/academy.

Gradi had a 24-year first spell as manager of Crewe between 1983 and 2007. He stepped down from his managerial role in 2007, handing first-team responsibilities to Steve Holland (football)/Steve Holland, and became technical director. At that time, Gradi was the List of English Football League managers by date of appointment/longest serving manager of an English football league club. After returning as manager in 2009, he stepped down on 10 November 2011 to focus on youth development at Crewe.

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Of course we can do it. But more importantly the players have begun to think we can do it.

The sending-off changed the game but we didn't have the quality to finish them off.

With the rule as it is at the moment he is unsignable, which seems a little harsh on him because I would imagine he has a family to look after and no income coming in until January.

If we'd have lost I would have said it would be mission impossible.

He's exactly the type of player I've been waiting for - he's got all the qualities I need.

I fully expect Juan to have something sorted out before the weekend.

Hopefully, he can go out on loan, score some goals and show that he has the ability to come back and make an impact in the Championship.

It's a tough league, the toughest it has been and we have to play at our very best. Maybe that isn't something they (the players) can do week in week out but it's what they have to do to stay in this league.

I would only really look to bring him back here if I was going to play him in the first team.