What was the best moment of your career?
Making my debut for England against Poland in the European championship qualifiers. We needed a draw in Poznan in 1991 to qualify for the finals and were 1-0 down but, early in the second half, managed to get an equaliser. We were hanging on a bit in a tense game. I also played at Wembley against Brazil, which was fantastic. The highlight in my club career was winning the League Cup final for Aston Villa against Manchester United in 1994. Our league form was woeful. Man United were winning things left, right and centre and nobody gave us a prayer. We went out there with no fear, no expectations and won the game quite comfortably 3-1. The match went like a blur. We stopped Man United winning the Treble that season, even though we had struggled to get past Tranmere Rovers in the semi-finals. In the first leg, they battered us 3-1. We won 3-1 at Villa Park and went through after a penalty shootout. I scored the winning penalty.
What was the worst moment of your career?
The career-ending injury I picked up. I was 26 years old, had just moved to Wolves and was raring to go. I managed to play only 20-odd games for them in four years. I was bought for the record fee at the time and did my cruciate ligament in pre-season.
What was the worst thing about being a footballer?
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They make one mistake and it is spread all over the news. Nothing is said about all the charity work they do in the background with children out of the goodness of their hearts.
Who was the best opponent you faced?
Denis Irwin of Manchester United. The other one was Tony Dorigo but, fortunately, he joined me at Villa. I didn't get any change out of Denis. I would get past him but all of a sudden, he would get a tackle in or get the ball off you. He was like a rash.
Who was the best manager you played under?
Graham Taylor, at Villa, Wolves and Watford and for England. He knew how to get the best out of me, when to give me a kick up the backside and when I needed an arm round my shoulder. He had a knack. If I had played badly or had a personal problem, I would go and see him. I had a lot of respect for him. Not many who played under him who would have a bad word about him as a person.
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What was your best Graham Taylor moment?
It was his first pre-season at Villa. We went to Sutton Park in Birmingham to do our pre-season training. We had just got out of the cars and he set off. We were thinking, 'This is just a five-minute jog'. He started at a hell of a pace and a few of the players were chuckling and saying, 'How can he continue at this pace? It will be two minutes and he will slow down and give up'. Forty-five minutes later and we were still going the same pace and some of the lads were struggling. We were about 100 yards from where we started and could see the drinks. Suddenly, he darts off on a detour and we had to run for another 20 minutes. That was the worst bit. In that hour and a bit we changed from chuckling at him to absolute exhaustion and disbelief ... and of course respect.
What was the best advice you received?
When Graham Taylor first came to Villa I was only a youngster and a lot had been said about my ability. We were having a team meeting and he turned round and, out of the blue, said, 'As for you, Mr Daley, if you don't buck your ideas up you will be down the road'. That was what I needed because as a youngster you fancy yourself as a player.
What is the best thing about the modern game?
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There are now 22 athletes on that football field performing at 100% of their ability. The way the game is played, they have to be fit. A lot more players are fitter now. Don't get me wrong, a player like Gordon Cowans was very fit in our time. Now there are a lot more Gordon Cowanses. Everyone is looking after themselves.
WHERE ARE YOU NOW?
I am the fitness and conditioning coach at Wolves. I have always been interested in fitness and physiology. Whenever I was injured as a player, I wanted to know why. I did a three-year degree in sports science and have just finished a masters in applied sports science, which I did over two years part-time while at Wolves. I started with Sheffield United and then moved to Wolves. My job is to keep the fit players fit, control their strength and conditioning programmes and design the individual fitness programmes. I live in Sutton Coldfield with my wife, Michelle. My son, Kieran, who is 23 in January, works with young people, putting them on the straight and narrow. My daughter, Sheridan, who is 18, is studying journalism at Lincoln University.
- Tony Daley is sponsored by sports nutrition brand Multipower. For more information go to www.multipoweruk.com
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Aston Villa v Bayern Munich, 1982 European Cup final
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