Former Liverpool and Fulham midfielder Danny Murphy has paid tribute to his favourite coaches, including Crewe Alexandra chief Dario Gradi.
He wrote in the Daily Mail: "I have had a few great coaches to learn from. Dario Gradi was my mentor at Crewe, he took me from boy to man. He taught me about tactics, where to stand, how to play the right way and he knocked some discipline into me. I was a bit precocious, a bit silly as a kid and he straightened me out.
"Crewe was brilliant, one of those clubs where young players will get a chance. I am still in contact with him. He is just a great guy who really knows how to develop young players.
"Gerard Houllier was a massive influence at Liverpool. He saw potential in me when I was not really playing in the Liverpool team.
"Roy Hodgson was brilliant. When he came in at Fulham we had just managed to stay up and over the next few years we surpassed all expectations. He treated us like men and gave the freedom to be ourselves - a real master of man management.
"His coaching is brilliant. The package he brought to the job was so impressive - we got to the final of the Europa League and finished seventh in the Premier League. For Fulham, that was incredible."
