Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp has no intention of bowing out on a high after masterminding the club's first FA Cup triumph for 69 years.
Kanu's 37th-minute goal was enough to account for Coca-Cola Championship side Cardiff at Wembley and book Pompey's place in next season's UEFA Cup.
There had been suggestions prior to the final that Redknapp, who has endured a stressful and traumatic season, would consider retirement after 25 years in management should his side be victorious.
But nothing appears to be further from the truth.
"There's no way I'm going to pack up. It's never entered my mind," said Redknapp, who this season has had his house raided by anti-corruption police and is still mourning the death of sister-in-law Pat Lampard, mother of Chelsea midfielder Frank, last month.
"I don't know what I would do without football and there's no way I am going to walk away from Portsmouth again. I've done that once and we all know what happened."
The 61-year-old was referring to his brief flirtation with south-coast rivals Southampton after leaving Fratton Park in November 2004 because of differences with then owner Milan Mandaric before returning a year later.
Some pundits took his low-key reaction to the Wembley victory as a sign Redknapp had finally had enough of management.
But, especially in light of recent events, he said it was just not his style to jump around on the touchline.
"I don't go mad at anything anymore. It takes a lot to get me excited," he said.
"It's been difficult. My wife has been so low and I suppose it's not been easy the last few weeks but it can happen to every family at any time.
"It's hard for me when she's like that but I wanted to win so badly to get a smile back on her face and she knew how much it meant and was so happy about how the day went."
Redknapp found it difficult to assess which had been his greatest achievement as Portsmouth manager; winning the FA Cup or rescuing them from relegation in the 2005-06 season.
"In football terms I'm still not sure whether winning the FA Cup compares with us staying up a couple of seasons ago," he said.
"After I came back [from Southampton] in the December I thought we were dead and buried but somehow, even with the poor team we had, we managed to escape.
"But, of course, winning the FA Cup is a glory day for an altogether different team.
"We've brought in some great players; David James, Sol Campbell. They've all been great but when I signed them people told me, 'You are mad, you are off your head'.
"What I look for is simply players with ability who are up for it and not just coming for an extra few bob.
"James is just a fantastic goalie and I had no doubts he was the best around. When there was a chance to get Sol, I was up and down to London every day in a week to see him right after the season where we nearly got relegated.
"As soon as I'd got those two in I knew at least there would be no relegation battle for us."
Redknapp added: "I think I get the best out of them. I try to treat them with respect. If there's a problem and they need a day off I give it to them and they've always responded the right way.
"With Kanu I just felt he still had a lot to offer. He has so much natural ability and I knew I could get him on a free transfer with his small wages at the time and he's proved me right."
The Nigerian, who already had two FA Cup winners' medals with Arsenal even though he played just nine minutes as a substitute in the 2002 final against Chelsea and was on the bench throughout the victory against Southampton a year later, missed a golden chance after 21 minutes at Wembley this time around.
He rolled a shot against a post after two magical touches had taken him past two defenders and goalkeeper Peter Enckelman to leave him with an open goal.
But 16 minutes later he scored from three yards after the hapless Enckelman spilled John Utaka's cross and that proved enough.
Redknapp joked: "He scored the semi-final winner against West Brom as well and now he's saying, 'Gaffer, gaffer, you have got to give me a three-year contract now'.
"Like Jamo (James) and Sol he's one of the ones with experience who started it all off for us.
"We've since added a few younger ones like Lassana Diarra, a real star who you couldn't imagine joining a club like Portsmouth a few years ago, and Niko Kranjcar, another real talent. That's how far we've come.
"I'd like to get some more younger ones in. We've got some targets we are looking at and hopefully we'll be able to improve the squad again this summer with one or two.
"Now we've won the FA Cup and we are in Europe so hopefully it will attract more players like Diarra, who was a real coup."
