Graham Taylor dies: Wolves and Aston Villa star Tony Daley says manager made him 'feel invincible'

Daley credits Taylor, who died today at the age of 72, with having had the biggest influence on his playing career.

"He was the manager who really honed my abilities as a player and helped me enjoy some success," explained Daley, who had just broken into Villa's first team, aged 19, when Taylor took charge following the club's relegation in 1987.

"He knew when to give me a kick up the backside, and he knew when I needed to be picked up," he said.

"But what I would say is this – every time I went on the pitch under Graham Taylor I felt invincible.

"That is how he made me feel, he had that knack of making me feel like I was the best player ever.

"And that was with so many players. He had the ability as a manager to get the best out of everyone."

Taylor is revered at Villa Park for his work rebuilding the club during a three-year spell which saw them win promotion at the first-time of asking and then finish second in the First Division during the 1989-90 campaign.

Daley was a key member of the team during that period but revealed their relationship did not get off to the best of starts.

"We had a team meeting outside on the first day," he said. "Graham was talking for about 20 minutes or so and I remember just looking around thinking 'when are we going to start training?'

"All I heard was Graham saying 'as for you' and I still wasn't taking any notice.

"I heard him say it again and I looked up – he was talking to me!

"He said he had heard bits and pieces about me and that he wasn't too impressed.

"There were a few things going on with me at the time in that I had a few clubs interested in me and I was getting some bad advice off an agent.

"Graham told me that if I didn't stop sulking and buck my ideas up he'd be sending me down the road, and that was Blues.

"He commanded instant respect, and from that day it knocked me into shape.

"Graham knew how to treat players through the good times and the bad.

"I remember when I was having a tough time and he would spend a good hour, one to one with me, working with me to improve my game.

"He was a gentleman, and you knew where you stood with him."

Taylor left Villa to take the England job but after returning to club management in 1994 with Wolves, took Daley to Molineux in a £1.25million deal.

"People used to banter with me that Graham was like my second Dad, and to be honest with you in some respects he was," said Daley, who is now Wolves' fitness chief. "That is how highly I respected him.

"I came to Wolves under Graham as well. I didn't want to leave the top division and I wouldn't have done for any other manager than Graham.

"He sold the club to me, and the players he was going to bring in.

"And if myself and a few others had been able to avoid injuries we would have managed to take Wolves up.

"It is such a sad day and my condolences go to Rita and all of the Taylor family."