Dario Gradi has decided that at 78 years of age he is to retire from the positions he currently holds at Crewe Alexandra Football Club.

He was the club’s most successful manager having won four promotions, most notably guiding the club into the second tier of English football in 1997 and again in 2003.

The club went on to play eight seasons in the EFL Championship under his tenure and a number of his former players went on to play at the highest level and represent their respective countries.

In total, the Milan-born Gradi, took charge of 1,359 Crewe Alexandra first-team matches.

In January 1998, Gradi was awarded the MBE for his services to football and he was awarded the PFA Merit Award in 2004. He was also honoured by the Football League in 2011 when awarded for his ‘Outstanding Contribution To League Football’.

Crewe Alexandra would like to thank Dario for his outstanding 36 years of service to the football club and are pleased to know that he would be happy to continue to assist the club’s senior coaching staff with his invaluable experience in the future.