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Ironically, he was short-listed for the job as manager of Blackburn Rovers but Jack Walker wanted, and got, Kenny Dalglish who himself was to buckle under the pressures and allow himself to be moved “upstairs”. When chief executive of the League Managers’ Association, he once said: “I know how exhausting the job can be. You can never get away from it.”
When he left his job as manager of Crystal Palace for the first time, he took two months off, describing it as “my first real holiday for nine years”. He tolerated them but often hinted that sooner or later they would conquer him. Steve Coppell’s decision to quit Manchester City after only 33 days and six matches was a shock but only in that it came so quickly.

Since injury ended his successful career as a player with Manchester United and England, he, more than most, heard about, experienced and understood the pressures of management. “It’s not particularly working with players, and that’s what gives me the buzz.” It is also what represents Gradi’s lasting contribution to the game.. In any case, I don’t think you could have a bigger challenge than trying to get this lot into the First Division.”In the last year Gradi has had talks with the Football Association about the role of technical director But he has pulled out of the running. To be honest I’m happy not to be asked because I’d hate to have to make that decision I’d be letting people down if I left. Hasn’t he been tempted to have a go at a higher level? “I’ve been sounded out a few times,” he said “At one point I might have gone back to Wimbledon. I usually shrug my shoulders and say I’ll think about it if the opportunity arises and it generally doesn’t come to anything because people don’t like to be turned down.

That was followed by an unhappy 10 months as manager of Crystal Palace and a year and a half running the youth team at Orient before he got the chance to join Crewe.Although progress has not been uninterrupted – promotion in 1989, relegation in 1991, promotion again in 1994 – it is easier to see why Crewe have kept faith with Gradi than why Gradi has kept faith with Crewe. He worked at Chelsea, Sutton United and Derby County before spending three years as manager of Wimbledon just after they had joined the Football League. “I’d had the sack a few times and I didn’t really want to be sacked again, so I had to pick carefully where I went. With Crewe I felt I could achieve something.”Gradi, who is 55, is unusual in that he never played professionally.