Neil Warnock completes 100 games as Cardiff manager on Saturday, but admits the shocking events of the last few weeks are unlikely to see him reach another century.
Cardiff were Leicester’s first opponents last weekend following the death of their owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha in a helicopter crash.
Warnock says he was also affected by the heart attack suffered by the former England manager Glenn Hoddle and that has led him to re-evaluating his future.
“You see what happened at Leicester and with Glenn, who I think is a fantastic guy, and it brings it home to you that life is on a thread,” said Warnock, who turns 70 in December and is the second oldest manager in the top four divisions of English football behind Crystal Palace’s Roy Hodgson.
“It’s been one of the happiest times of my life (at Cardiff). Having thought about retiring two or three times, I’m really glad that I didn’t.
“I do feel better for doing what I’ve done here and I don’t think my job’s finished yet
“But I think another 100 games might be difficult.
“We’ll see how things go this season. There comes a time where I want to see one or two places I haven’t seen before.”
Warnock’s Cardiff contract runs until the end of the 2019-20 campaign, and that would be his 40th season as a manager after beginning at Gainsborough in 1980.
He says he is able to deal with the burden of modern-day management because he considers the only pressure that which he puts on himself.
“It is stressful, but at my time of life the stress is all self-inflicted – what I want to do with my career and life,” Warnock said.
“I’ve not got much time left and I want to finish football on a high. That high would be a miracle here.
“I would love to keep Cardiff up and stabilise the club next year and keep them up again, but health is so important and I have got a fitness regime at the moment.
“You’ve got to be mentally fit at this level, and my health will decide how long I do the job, but I look at the club as a farewell club and will not be going anywhere else.
“But at my age you want to do everything yesterday, especially with things that have happened over the last few weeks.”
Cardiff are without the suspended Harry Arter and injured pair Jazz Richards and Kenneth Zohore this weekend.
The Bluebirds fell back into the bottom three after losing to Leicester and Warnock believes Cardiff can learn a lot from Brighton.
“We need to defend like we can, that’s what they do,” Warnock said.
“They make very few mistakes and take their chances.
“That’s what we’ve got to do, but it’s easier said than done.
“Chris’ (Hughton) achievements speak for themselves and sometimes you’ve got to be careful what you wish for.
“Newcastle were in a super position when they got rid of him. He’s bad for us as managers, he’s so nice and gives us a bad reputation.”
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