The Premier League Manager of the Season award recognizes the most outstanding manager for the season. This award started in the 1993/94 season and has become a tradition at the end of every Premier League season.
We have six nominees who have distinguished themselves and deserved to be nominated this season.
PEP GUARDIOLA – MANCHESTER CITY FC
The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager was given a reality check in his first season in the Premier League. The players at his disposal couldn’t fit into his football philosophy, the team struggled to play the possession game football associated with Guardiola teams. 12 months on, huge investments were made to the team and we saw his team flourish with excellent attacking displays. It is no surprise City won the Premier League comfortably and in record time as well. Apart from big financial outlay, other established regulars have seen huge improvement in their game. Raheem Sterling, Nicolas Otamendi, Kevin De Bruyne, etc are beneficiaries of Guardiola’s coaching. In addition to the Premier League title, City won the Carabao Cup in a one sided victory over Arsenal late February. They didn’t complete a quadruple or treble as many expected but City can look to the future with huge optimism of conquering it all with the Spanish manager at the helm. He is a favorite to win the award.
SEAN DYCHE – BURNLEY FC
Burnley fans will wish this current season doesn’t end. They are enjoying a fantastic run in the Premier League in their second season after their return to the top flight in 2016. Last season, the Clarets banked on their home form to guarantee their Premier League status but have taken it a step further with significant improvement in their away form. Burnley finished 16th last season with 40 points but are currently placed 7th on the table with 54 points and will enter into the qualifying rounds the Europa League. With a +12.83m net transfer spend, Sean Dyche’s remarkable achievement has not gone unnoticed and deserves to be nominated for this prestigious award.
CHRIS HUGHTON – BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION FC
Tipped as one of the relegation candidates for the current season, Brighton Hove & Albion hit the magical 40 points last weekend defeating mighty Manchester United at the Amex stadium. The Seagulls returned to English top-flight after a 34 years absence with an automatic qualification spot in the second tier of English football. It was Hughton’s second promotion back to the Premier League having achieved similar feat with Newcastle United in 2010. It’s one thing to gain promotion to the elite division, it is a different challenge staying up. Chris Hughton has managed to keep the Brighton in the Premier League for another season which is an admirable achievement.
JURGEN KLOPP – LIVERPOOL FC
The German tactian arrived at Anfield in the spring of 2015 with the responsibility of turning around the fortunes of a club who had no clear identity. The American owners did not believe Brendan Rodgers had what it took to move Liverpool forward anymore. Klopp, known for his high octane, high pressing brand of football did not waste time in imposing his style on his new team. Under Klopp, Liverpool got to 2016 Capital One Cup final as well as the Europa League final losing both. They are in the 2018 UEFA Champions League final against Real Madrid. Liverpool style under Klopp has seen the Reds become a ruthless counterattacking outfit with high pressing. Their attacking trio (Mane, Firmino and Salah) have enjoyed good understanding among themselves this season, scoring 89 goals across all competitions for the Anfield giants. Kloppo is re-engineering Liverpool back into becoming one of English football’s powerful force.
ROY HODGSON – CRYSTAL PALACE FC
After England’s humiliating exit at the Euros in the summer of 2016, Roy Hodgson coaching credentials took a severe hit. Crystal Palace turned to their former player Roy Hodgson in a bid to rescue their season after firing Frank De Boer who lasted just 77 days in charge and five matches in charge. The players struggled to understand De Boer’s methods and communication was a big problem. Steve Parish and board were not ready to take chances with the club’s Premier League status. Roy was saddled with the responsibility of lifting the Eagles who looked weak and pale. Palace had no points or goals on board when he took over, they lost their first two games with a minus nine goal deficit to both Manchester cubs. Hodgson is no stranger to relegation business, he performed a mini miracle when he took over at Fulham in December 2007. After 37 games played, Crystal Palace sit 11th on the table with 41 points on board and Premier League safety guaranteed. A massive turnaround for a club condemned for the drop.
RAFA BENITEZ – NEWCASTLE UNITED FC
Rafa Benitez surprised the football world when he took the Newcastle job few months after he was fired at Real Madrid in 2016. Newcastle was a sinking ship destined for doom. Rafa couldn’t save the drowning club but he didn’t ditch the club either. The 2005 Champions League winning coach embraced the challenge of managing in the second tier of English football and won the English Football league as well as ensuring promotion back to the Premier League on first attempt. The Magpies are back in the elite division but the vision of owner (Mike Ashley) and manager (Rafa Benitez) on how to run club appears to be two opposite end of a spectrum. With little or no money, Benitez has had to deal with bargain buys, loan deals to keep his club up in the league. Keeping Newcastle United in the Premier League under the circumstances (uncertainty in the ownership of club, no financial backing in the transfer market) Rafa has operated shows his excellent managerial ability and a remarkable job he is doing on Tyneside. He deserves to be mentioned in the running for the award.
The 2017-18 Premier League season comes to end tomorrow. Surely, we have been entertained with top quality football week in, week out. 10 managers lost their jobs during the campaign with West Brom making the switch twice.
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