Neil Warnock has expressed his regret about missing out on managerial roles at Sunderland and Rangers after announcing his retirement from football, speaking to talkSPORT (14 April, 9.25am).
Black Cats boss Alex Neil wasn’t even born when Warnock began his sprawling coaching career in relative obscurity at Gainsborough Trinity over four decades ago.
After 41 years, 18 different clubs, eight promotions and a record 1,603 games, the former Middlesbrough, QPR, Sheffield United and Leeds boss has finally hung up his whistle and packed away his clipboard.
A legend bows out
Now, Warnock has come out of retirement more often than a grizzled 1980s action hero – ‘One Last Job’ has almost become the 73-year-old’s motto – but it seems that, this time, he is giving up the game for good.
And, when reflecting on a remarkable career that took him from the depths of non-league to the dizzying heights of the top-flight, Warnock admits that there is still a couple of gaps on a CV long enough to fill the Bayeux Tapestry.
“Well, there’s been one or two,” explains English football’s most prolific manager. “I turned Chelsea down, which was a big thing in those days. I should have gone to Sunderland probably.
“Bristol City has always been one, even though I’ve been up against their fans, I’ve always respected them deep down. That one’s a big miss for me. Sheffield Wednesday, I nearly went here once.
“And Rangers! I’ve always wanted to go to Scotland. I did apply for the Aberdeen job but I never got a reply! And Hearts once.”
According to The Chronicle, Warnock ‘expressed an interest’ in the Sunderland job as recently as February, after Lee Johnson was handed his P45 following a humiliating 6-0 defeat to Bolton Wanderers.
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With five wins in their last seven games, however, Sunderland’s decision to hand the reigns to Neil – a man 33 years Warnock’s junior – is starting to look like an inspired one.
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