1971 – Dario Gradi is appointed as an assistant coach at Chelsea, ending an amateur playing career with Tooting & Mitcham United and Sutton United.

1976 – Returns to Sutton United, briefly serving as the club’s manager.

1978 – Appointed as manager of Wimbledon. Wins promotion from the Fourth Division the following year.

1981 – Appointed as manager of Crystal Palace, fails to save the club from relegation and resigns after poor start to the following season.

1983 – Appointed as manager of Crewe Alexandra.

1989 – Wins promotion from Fourth Division, ending Crewe’s 25-year stay in the league’s bottom tier.

1990 – Signs a ten-year contract with Crewe, a previously unheard-of length of commitment for a manager.

1991 – Relegated to the Fourth Division.

1994 – Regains promotion to Third Division, now known as Division Two.

1997 – Wins promotion to Division One, taking Crewe to English football’s second tier for the first time in the club’s history.

Dario Gradi career timeline Show all 7 1 /7 Dario Gradi career timeline Dario Gradi career timeline Gradi in action for Sutton United, one of two clubs he represented during his amateur career. After retiring, he joined Chelsea as an assistant coach. Getty Dario Gradi career timeline Gradi took charge of Wimbledon in 1981, guiding them to promotion from the Fourth Division in his first full season. Getty Dario Gradi career timeline Gradi was appointed as manager of Crewe Alexandra in 1983, commencing what would be 24-year managerial stint at the club Getty Dario Gradi career timeline In 1997, Gradi brings second-tier English football to Crewe for the first time in the club’s history. He receives an MBE the following year. Getty Dario Gradi career timeline Gradi received the PFA's Merit Award in 2004. Its previous recipients include Sir Matt Busby, Bill Shankly and Sir Bobby Charlton. Getty Dario Gradi career timeline In 2007, Gradi relinquished first-team duties at Crewe, making Manchester United's Sir Alex Ferguson the longest-serving manager in league football. Getty Dario Gradi career timeline Gradi returns to the Gresty Road dugout in 2009 for a two-year spell in charge, before assuming the director of football role he still holds today. Getty

1998 – Awarded an MBE for services to football.

2002 – Relegated to Division Two.

2003 – Promoted to Division One.

2004 – Inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame.

2006 – Relegated from Division One, now known as the Championship.

2007 – Relinquished first-team responsibilities at Crewe, ending his 24-year-long reign as manager by becoming club’s technical director.

2008 – Resumes control of Crewe’s first-team on a caretaker basis, before being succeeded by Gudjon Thordarson.

2009 – Reinstated as Crewe’s manager.

2011 – Steps down as manager of Crewe, assumes director of football role at the club.