Neil Warnock says he would have walked away from football but for Steve Gibson's decision to appoint him as Middlesbrough boss, as he prepares to manage a record-breaking 1,602nd match.
He will overtake Dario Gradi's record of most games managing English league clubs in Tuesday's trip to Luton.
The 72-year-old started coaching in the 1980s, and made Boro the 16th club of his career on arrival in June 2020.
"I'm very proud to have done this," Warnock told BBC Radio Tees.
"I didn't think I would. I owe a lot to Steve Gibson, because I wouldn't have carried on in football if he hadn't made that phone call.