I have started my coaching badges. I am on level B at the moment and I am nearly finished with that. Sometimes you think these courses aren’t that great, and people do dismiss them as classroom rubbish, but I’ve found the experience of being around top-class coaches and looking at the game from this new perspective fantastic.
I have also been doing a lot of media work, radio and television stuff like Match of the Day. I wanted to see if I was any good at it, but I thoroughly enjoy it. Getting paid to talk about football is pretty good fun, I have to say.
Uncertain times: Danny Murphy is without a club after leaving Blackburn in the summer - but has not retired
I’ve also been quite busy with Stoptober at the moment. It is a government-backed scheme to help people stop smoking in October. Statistically, if you can give up for a sustained period of time it means your chances of giving up are far greater.
I lost my own dad to lung cancer in 2006 and he was a smoker. I know the impact it can have and this campaign is not about being critical or judgmental, but just trying to help.
From a football perspective I have been doing as much as I can without actually being part of a club. I haven’t decided wholeheartedly what to do next so while I’m still fit and able and have the opportunity to play, I want to keep myself fit. Right now, I am just happy taking my time and assessing my options, waiting to see what I really want to do next.
It’s just the best game. I have played more than 600 games and had some brilliant moments in football, but I still love playing so much. Training on the winter mornings can be tough, particularly if the training isn’t good and the team is struggling. I’ve been in that situation.
But game day is always special. You get that buzz. It is one of the main reasons why I never stayed at a club for too long if I wasn’t playing. Last year, we had tough times at Blackburn, but in the heat of the battle it’s still brilliant.
I spoke to a friend of mine last week who plays for a local team in Surrey and said I’d be happy to have a game if they are short. He smiled at that, but I think he was a bit worried about me getting kicked and all the rest of it so he didn’t take me up on it!
I do still have a couple of options available to me with football clubs in the Championship and League One. I like to think I could do a job in the Premier League, but it gets faster every year and I wouldn’t be able to do 90 minutes every week.
But I played for Fulham the year before last and missed only three games. We’ll see. For me, a big thing is I don’t particularly want to move again unless the opportunity is right. I’m 36 now and the kids are in school.
I must say, day-to-day life is so relaxed now. There isn’t that same rigorous schedule telling me I have to be somewhere, or that you can’t eat after 7pm the day before a match. It’s been kind of strange not having that structure, but it’s also quite nice.
I can understand why so many people struggle when that structure goes. For me, I guess it still feels like a holiday because I might yet go back. If I don’t go back I’ll miss it so much. It’s all I’ve known for 20 years.
Starting out: Murphy began his career under Dario Gradi at Crewe
Hitting the big time: Murphy moved onto from Crewe to Liverpool in 1997
Part of the team: Murphy during his Liverpool days training with Jamie Redknapp, Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard at Melwood
The great thing has been spending time with my children. I have a seven-year-old daughter, a three-year-old son and my oldest son is 17. Last year the two youngest stayed down south while I went up north to Blackburn, so it’s been so nice being with them, doing the school run. Normal things like walking the dog.
Last Christmas day I had lunch and then I was straight in the car to get over to Middlesbrough for a Boxing Day game. We have a great life as a footballer, but you do miss a lot of those wonderful family moments that other people might get bored of.
Long term, I’d like to manage. I am not somebody who thinks I could walk straight in and be good. The best managers I have had have been good coaches. At the top level it’s largely managing egos and personalities, but I want to be good at coaching.
Good relationship: Murphy says Roy Hodgson treated the Fulham players like adults
Leap for glory: Murphy scored the winner against Portsmouth to keep Fulham in the Premier League in 2008
Premier passion: Murphy played for Fulham and believes he can still cut it in the top flight
I have had a few great coaches to learn from. Dario Gradi was my mentor at Crewe, he took me from boy to man. He taught me about tactics, where to stand, how to play the right way and he knocked some discipline into me. I was a bit precocious, a bit silly as a kid and he straightened me out.
Crewe was brilliant, one of those clubs where young players will get a chance. I am still in contact with him. He is just a great guy who really knows how to develop young players.
Gerard Houllier was a massive influence at Liverpool. He saw potential in me when I was not really playing in the Liverpool team.
Spotting potential: Gerard Houllier had a big influence on Murphy's career at Liverpool
Big influence: Murphy enjoyed working under Dario Gradi at Crewe and Roy Hodgson at Fulham
His coaching is brilliant. The package he brought to the job was so impressive – we got to the final of the Europa League and finished seventh in the Premier League. For Fulham, that was incredible.
The players contributed but it was mainly due to his set up on the coaching field and the fact we would do anything for him. He has a nice presence and he is very honest. But he can be firm; firm but always fair. Players like fairness and honesty and believe me not all managers have that. You can criticise someone in a nice, constructive way. You don’t have to make them feel small.
Credit where credit's due: Murphy says Hodgson deserves more credit for the draw in Ukraine
The England job is always going to be a no-win, though.
He will ultimately be judged on getting to Brazil and how they do when they get there. I believe when everyone is fit we will qualify and do well when we get there.
Roy always used to say you should never get carried away in success or too despondent in defeat. I think people should listen to that.
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