Dario Gradi

By the late 20th century and early years of the 21st century, Milan-born Dario Gradi (born 8 July 1941) had become one of English football's most respected managers and coaches. Never achieving stardom as a player, Gradi embarked on an off-pitch career that eventually took him to Crewe Alexandra F.C. in 1983. He took the club from the bottom of the then Fourth Division to the First Division by the late 1990s, becoming the League's longest serving manager in the process. His ability to spot talent in young players and to develop this is well-known. Graduates of the Gradi school include England internationals David Platt[?], Geoff Thomas[?], Danny Murphy[?] and Seth Johnson[?], Welsh international Robbie Savage[?], and Northern Ireland international Neil Lennon[?].