CRAIG HARRISON had to retire from football after a career-ending injury and renovated houses until he rediscovered his passion and returned as a manager.
Harrison started his professional career at Middlesbrough in 1996 and went on to amass a total of 22 appearances until 2000 as he was also loaned out to Preston North End as well as Crystal Palace.
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The former defender signed a permanent deal with Palace 13 years ago and played in 44 matches until 2003 when he suffered a horrific injury.
It was during a reserves game when a bad tackle led to a double compound fracture in the Gateshead native’s left leg and ended his career at the age of 26.
Harrison told TalkSPORT: “It’s every boy’s dream to be a professional footballer. Especially in the north-east of England which is a hotbed of football.
“You have got people like Paul Gascoigne to look up to, etc. You get the opportunity to play for Middlesbrough in the Premier League and then move on to Crystal Palace in the Championship.
“You are probably just about to come into your prime before an injury like that, it changes your life upside-down and not for the better.”
Harrison spent 19 months rehabilitating and went under the knife three times.
Sadly, however, he never managed to return to the pitch and spent three years renovating as well as selling properties after prematurely rolling credits on his career.
He wanted nothing to do with football at that time and wouldn’t even watch games on TV.
However, Harrison found his way back to the sport as a manager in 2008 and has since found success in Wales where he is in charge of The New Saints.
And he has led TNS to seven league titles, four Welsh Cups and three Welsh League Cups.
Harrison has also managed 15 Champions League qualifiers and is now set for his 16th when his team hosts Hacken tonight in the first round.
He will draw level with Frank Lampard’s 16 matches, although the Chelsea legend has taken charge of all of his games from the group stage onwards.
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Only Sir Bobby Robson is ahead of them with the most matches managed by an Englishman in Europe’s elite competition with 30 under his belt.
Harrison added: “You look at it, Sir Bobby Robson has been one of the best managers England have ever seen. You can’t put yourself on the same pedestal as that. But I am still very proud to represent TNS in the Champions League.
“You see a lot of managers in the Championship and Premier League who don’t get to put their wits against the most elite club competition in Europe against the best players and managers.
“It is a great opportunity, it is something I never thought I’d get into as soon as I broke my leg.
“I spent two or three years away from football before getting involved again and within the space of 10 years I have done all my coaching badges, got the love of football back and used it to drive me every single day.
“I feel like it is a bit of just service done after having it taken away from me too early.
“Every opportunity I get now, I embrace it, I run with it and try make the most of it.”
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