Mansfield Town's Ryan Tafazolli believes Adam Murray is the best manager in The Football League, with the defender admitting the boss has transformed him from a boy to a man.
The towering Tafazolli has made 40 appearances in all competitions in the Stags backline this term, playing a key role in Murray's men sitting 13th in Sky Bet League 2 after 39 matches.And the former Southampton youngster, in his fourth season with the Stags, hailed Murray's influence since the 34-year-old took over in December 2014.
“Playing under the gaffer; he has turned me from a boy to a man, he really has,” Tafazolli told mansfieldtown.net.
“He has brought me on massively and I can’t speak highly enough of him. For me, he is hands down the best manager outside of the Premier League.
“I want to improve as much as I can as a footballer and I know that if I'm playing under Adam Murray I will become twice the footballer I am this time next year.
“There are no managers out there who would improve me as much as him. To work underneath the gaffer here again [next season] would be unbelievable.
“He’s taught me how to become a leader, set examples, influence others and get the best out of my teammates. That’s probably what I’ve improved on the most. I'm a different animal now and I have to put that down to the gaffer.”
Tafazolli was substituted in the first half of Mansfield's latest outing, against Northampton, after suffering a dead leg, and the Stags went on to draw 2-2 with the Sky Bet League 2 leaders.
The defender has had a scan, and is waiting for the results to determine whether he will be in line to face Hartlepool United on Saturday.
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