The Premier League Manager of the Season award recognizes the most outstanding manager for the season. This award started in the 1993/94 season so it has become a tradition at the end of every Premier League season. We have a number of contenders for this prestigious award; with the leading contenders from the two title chasing teams – Manchester City and Liverpool. The listed managers have distinguished themselves and deserved to be nominated.
PEP GUARDIOLA
The reigning manager of the season is in contention for the award once again this term. The Spaniard has instilled his fluid attacking football approach into his team and they have been the best team in the league in the last two months. They can retain the Premier League title by winning their last two league matches and can complete a domestic treble if the retain the league title and triumph in the FA Cup final against Watford later in the month with the League Cup already in the kitty since February. Manchester City are becoming the new benchmark in English football. If they manage to retain the title, he would be the favorite to win the award once again.
JURGEN KLOPP
Klopp has re-engineered Liverpool back into one of English football’s powerful force. Liverpool reinvested the huge transfer fee received from Barcelona for Philippe Coutinho in Virgil Van Dijk, Fabinho and a reliable goalkeeper in Alisson Becker to fortify the squad and mount a proper title challenge this season. The Reds have very consistent and difficult to beat all season; losing just once after 37 rounds of matches. It has been a wonderful Premier League season till date considering there was a 25 points difference between them and last season champions. The Reds can amass as much as 97 points for the season but could still come up empty. The Merseyside giants haven’t had trophies to celebrate under the former Borussia Dortmund coach but the future looks very bright for Liverpool and deserves to be recognized for his work.
NUNO ESPIRITO SANTO
Newly promoted Wolves are enjoying an excellent return to the top flight. The Wanderers might be playing European football next season if results go there way between now and the end of the season. Nuno has assembled a talented squad that waltzed through the English second division last season but has exceeded expectations to secure Premier League survival and have done so with real verve. Their performances against the top six in the league shows the ability of the team – they have taken points from the top six more than the rest of the Premier League. Nuno has exceeded expectation which is an admirable achievement.
JAVI GRACIA
The Spanish coach was tipped as one of the managers to lose his job just in line with the style of his club but the Gracia has literally done the opposite; endeared himself more to the club and the fans. For a team tipped to struggle, the former Rubin Kazan and Malaga coach has not only guided the Hornets to safety but also competing for a top half finish and a place in the FA Cup final. He has now guided Watford to their highest ever points total in the Premier League with the Hornets unbeaten at Vicarage Road in 2019. The Spaniard is probably Watford’s best manager since legendary Graham Taylor. Can Javi go one better than Taylor in the FA Cup final and win it?
UNAI EMERY
Saddled with the responsibilities of filling the shoes of Arsenal greatest manager – Arsene Wenger, Emery would have hoped for a full scale overhauling at Arsenal but was denied such due to financial restrictions by the board. The Spaniard became creative with his available resources; has successfully integrated Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang into a formidable attacking duo. The Gunners went on a 22-game unbeaten run earlier in the season including 10 straight home wins in the league to build a platform for their decent season. They seem to have gone off the boil lately, missing out of a top-four place but success in his favorite competition – UEFA Europa League would represent a good first campaign in England.
After 37 rounds of matches in an intriguing Premier League season, we are excited about the title race which has gone down to the wire but will ultimately be settled on Sunday. Who will win the Premier League title? Enjoy the final day of the Premier League season; predict and win big by visiting our Sports shop Babaijebu.ng for mouthwatering offers on all 10 matches.