ROW the Atlantic; sail the Pacific; cycle across America – it’s not the usual bucket list.But then, City’s new fitness coach Chris Short is not an ordinary guy.

Having seen his playing career cruelly cut short at 29 because of a mystery blood and circulation problem, Short reinvented himself as an adrenaline junkie.

He has already rowed across the Channel for charity and ridden a couple of Tour de France stages on holiday just for the fun of it.

“I’ve always been very competitive in my own quiet way,” he said during a break at training this week.

“That’s just the way I am. I’ve always tried to keep fit and explore different things.

“I rowed the Channel and was due to do the Atlantic in 2011 but personal circumstances didn’t allow me to do so.

“It’s still out there and I’ll have to do that in time – but I don’t know if my family would be too impressed.

“I want to cycle across the States as well. My brother (former footballer) Craig’s a big sailor as well and hopefully we can sail the Pacific in a couple of years. There are always challenges out there.

“I had no technique when we rowed the Channel but we managed to get across in a very slow time. I think people swam it quicker – but we raised some cash, which was the main thing.

“I was very slow again with the cycling. I was on holiday in the south of France and asked the family to give me a day to do a stage.

“I did a couple down there that were semi-mountainous and just about got round.

“I’d like to cycle across the States before I get too old but the next challenge might have to wait until I’ve finished in the game.

“I can’t say to Stuart (McCall), can I have three months off to row across the world!”

Short’s connection with McCall from Sheffield United helped get him the job to replace Robert Lossau.

Ironically, he was also born in Germany – where both parents served as PE teachers in Army schools.

Short was nine before he moved to England but admits his German is not far enough up to scratch to impress Edin Rahic.

“I’ve had lessons and it’s getting there but I’m still a long way off,” he said.

“The chairman picked up on it from my CV and we had a brief discussion in German. But it’s something I need to brush up on.”

Short’s interest in fitness and the human body was sparked by his determination to get to the bottom of the issue that left him feeling drained during games.

It was a search that saw him contact 40 specialists across the world before being finally pinned down to a reaction to the medication he had taken to treat a skin condition.

Short recalled: “I suffered extreme muscle pain, fatigue and weakness.

“My strengths as a player were my fitness and speed. I wasn’t a great footballer so I had to rely on something and when that was taken away from me, it wasn’t to be.

“I tried to have a campaign to make athletes more aware of the consequences of these drugs. It’s really full on.

“It took my career away from me and certainly within that career, six years were wasted.

“I packed in at 29 but I’d been playing with all sorts of medication from the age of 23.

“I was grateful still to play some games but it could have been so much better.

“But I’ve turned it into a positive and tried to help people not get in the same situation.”

Short’s second career began 14 years ago and has taken in Blackburn, Sheffield United, Derby, Crystal Palace, Leicester and Bolton before arriving at Valley Parade last month.

Coming in during the season, he has found it a smooth transition – but he would like to bring in more technology.

He said: “As I’ve got older, I’ve become more involved in the stats side. I’ve had a conversation with the chairman about using GPS.

“It doesn’t lie. You can make a decision on an injured player and tell them the reason you’re not involved is because you’re not hitting certain parameters.

“That’s not subjective, that’s just fact. It’s a fair system and players understand that.

“But they are the easiest group to work with because they are committed and honest.”