Dario Gets PFA Merit Award

I suppose it's the equivalent to the life time achievement award and Dario was awarded it in the PFA awards. In his 21st year at the club Dario is still the god, despite the odd mong cristicising something or other about him. Every fan knows the state Crewe were in when he took over in 1983, with Crewe looking likely to be non-league sooner of later and being in Division One(or Two, as it was then) was merely a pipe dream.

He's transformed the club inside out and remains the longest serving manager in Europe. With Crewe being up there with the best academies and up there with the most secure finances in the Nationwide - Dario has turned Crewe into a club fans can be proud of. Who would have thought we would ever be talking about possibly reaching the Division One Play-Offs, like we were at Christmas?

The PFA had this to say: "It is with great pleasure that the PFA pays tribute to a manager who, whilst never taking charge of a team at the highest level, has earned massive and unanimous respect from people in the game for the remarkable job he has done at Crewe Alexandra - Dario Gradi.

During the course of his 1,000+ games in charge of the Alex, Dario has cemented the club's standing as a reputable First Division club whilst developing such individual talent as David Platt, Geoff Thomas, Danny Murphy and many more. He is truly deserving of the PFA Merit Award."

Dario meanwhile was delighted to have won the award but was also surprised to be a winner with the likes of Thierry Henry(Player of the Year) and Scott Parker(Young Player Of The Year): "I was both surprised and delighted to receive this award, on what is such a prestigious night in the football calendar." - Said the man who has taken charge in over 1090 games since taking over at Gresty Road.

More reaction to this later on Monday.

Meanwhile, Former Alex defender Efe Sodje was named in the Division Three PFA Team Of The Year with supposed Alex target David Graham of Torquay.