Fri Oct 29, 2021 6:34 pm
Neil Warnock:
I felt violently sick on return
Middlesbrough boss Neil Warnock says he felt "violently sick" ahead of his return to Cardiff City Stadium last weekend.
The veteran manager has opened up on his career as he closes in on a record-breaking appearance as a boss.
Boro’s game against Birmingham on Saturday is his 1,601st game as manager - which will equal Dario Gradi's milestone as the most matches as boss in English football history.
And it is obvious that the hunger is still there for the 72-year-old, who still gets intense pre-match nerves.
“Sharon (his wife) does my hair in the morning too! That helps! You can see when she is not living with me," he told our colleagues at The Mirror.
“You have to be happy in your job. I wake up at 4am and it is horrible. Last week at Cardiff in the morning I just felt violently sick. And that never changes. That is how managers are. Then the whistle goes and you are ok.
“It is not a good job at times. You have to front up and lead, and you can’t be too down. I get over the bad ones more than some managers.
“At the start of my career, Sharon used to say 'why are they getting the sack and getting big pay-offs!' I said 'sorry darling, I am trying to win games!'
“Everyone else we knew was getting sacked and getting pay offs, and so that’s why I am 1,601 and not as wealthy as some of them!
“I’ve had bleak times and some I wouldn’t want to repeat, and have kept going. I am proud of doing this many games. My mum and dad would be proud.”