For a manager who kept Charlton Athletic safely in the Premier League for many seasons and also did well at West Ham before resigning and then winning a case of constructive dismissal, it is jarring to note that it's almost eight years since Alan Curbishley managed a club at any level.
The former Charlton and West Ham boss has written an excellent new book called Game Changers featuring insights from well-known managers, players and football figures he has chatted to and joined Team 33 to discuss that and more.
He also spoke about the length of time he has been away from the sidelines, despite an impressive CV.
You can listen to the full in-depth interview on the podcast player or stream on iTunes:
"I was massively disappointed because [West Ham] is the club that I played for and supported," he said.
"Obviously being a local boy, it was a dream job for me. I thought I had a good team. I thought I put a good side together and it ended disappointingly. It should never have happened the way it did and I do regret that was the case."
His parting with West Ham occurred in September 2008 and a year later, the courts ruled in his favour in his case for constructive dismissal.
"The situation I was in, I had to make a stand and because it took so long to sort out - which I'm pleased to say now in the Premier League now it wouldn't take so long if it was a similar situation - and once that had been done, I felt that my record stood up against most people's and the jobs I was being offered wasn't what I thought was right for me at the time and unfortunately the longer you're out, then with the turnaround of managers and owners etc, you're soon forgotten - and your record is sort of forgotten too.
"I lost a bit of enthusiasm for it and stumbled into a different life if you like, so that is possibly down to me but as I say, I do have regrets that perhaps if I had stayed at [West Ham], I'd have been quite successful."
In the last few years, he has taken on backroom and technical coaching roles at Fulham, as well as being involved in punditry.
But he hasn't ruled out returning to management again some day if a suitable offer is made.
"If an opportunity came along, I wouldn't be too shy to take it," he said.
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