Tony Daley joined Aston Villa, as an apprentice at the age of 14 and made his senior debut, aged 17 in April 1985. He played for Villa for just over nine seasons at the highest level and finished a runner-up in both the league seasons of 1989 - 1990 and 1992 - 1993 and won the League Cup with Villa in 1994. During this period, Tony was capped seven times for England between 1991 and 1992 under former club manager Graham Taylor. Tony linked up with Graham Taylor again as he finally left Villa for Wolverhampton Wanderers in July 1994 for a (then) club record GBP1.25 million, but he was plagued with injuries and was only able to manage 21 appearances for the club in four seasons. He was signed by Graham Taylor yet again in July 1998, who was Watford manager, on a free transfer. His injury woes continued though, and he struggled to get fit, missing the final months as the club won promotion to the Premier League. He was given a free transfer to newly promoted Division One side, Walsall in June 1999, and after a brief spell there, he finished his playing career with Conference side Forest Green Rovers, finally hanging up his boots in July 2002.

Ron Atkinson is one of English football's most recognisable and popular characters, having been involved in management for a quarter of a century. He remains the only Englishman to have won major trophies with three different clubs: Manchester United, Sheffield Wednesday and Aston Villa. At West Bromwich Albion, he was one of the first managers to promote black footballers, including Laurie Cunningham, who went to Real Madrid, Cyrille Regis, who became an England international, and Brendon Batson MBE. After retiring from management, Ron evolved into one of the most familiar and forthright commentators on football. Yet that career came to an end in April 2004 with a single, unguarded comment about the Chelsea defender, Marcel Desailly. Atkinson was labelled a racist and driven from the game he loves. In The Manager Ron Atkinson delves into the highs and lows of an extraordinary career that took him from non-league football to Old Trafford's theatre of dreams in the space of seven years. He almost managed two Midlands clubs - Aston Villa and West Brom - to the league title. But behind the familiar image of the bling and one-line quips Ron Atkinson was - and remains - a deep observer of football and footballers. Here he gives the full account of a life in football. From an awestruck youngster in 1950s Birmingham watching the supermen of Honved via a stalwart career as a lower league professional with Oxford to managing one of the biggest club in world football, Atkinson's has been a life less ordinary. With detailed portraits of the men he worked with an against, including Bryan Robson, Paul McGrath, Sir Alex Ferguson and Dwight Yorke, Atkinson also discusses the rise of the foreign footballer; the decline of the English manager and what it is like to sing live at Ronnie Scott's.