By Soccernet
Roy Hodgson has taken Fulham to unprecedented
heights this season
Fulham boss Roy Hodgson has been crowned Manager of the
Year by the League Managers' Association (LMA), an award voted for
by all the managers in the top four leagues in
England.
Hodgson has regularly received plaudits from his peers this
season after guiding Fulham to a first ever European final, beating
the likes of Juventus and Wolfsburg along the way.
And the former Inter Milan boss will lead the Cottagers into
battle against Atletico Madrid this Wednesday in the inaugural
Europa League final, looking to become the first English manager to
lift a major European trophy since Bobby Robson won the Cup
Winners' Cup with Barcelona in 1997.
LMA Chairman, Howard Wilkinson, said: "Since joining Fulham, Roy
has transformed the club's fortunes. He initially saved them from
the brink of relegation then took them to their highest ever league
position last season. This year he has capitalised on that
platform, achieving remarkable success in this season's Europa
League.
"He is highly respected by the LMA members and also on an
international level where he has worked his miracles in no fewer
than seven countries. He is a great role model for all aspiring
managers and coaches and is fully deserving of this
recognition."
Hodgson was charged with saving Fulham from relegation when he
first took the reins at Crave Cottage in December 2007, something
he achieved in dramatic fashion with a victory over Portsmouth on
the final day of the 2007-08 season to keep the Cottagers up on
goal difference.
Since then he has built on a solid foundation, motivating a
group of good, if not spectacular Premier League footballers to
achieve well above their station in European competition.
Newcastle's Chris Hughton was named the Championship Manager of
the Year for his efforts in taking the club back up at the first
attempt, while Norwich's Paul Lambert and Rochdale's Keith Hill
have been honoured for their exploits in League One and League Two
respectively.
Steve McClaren, enjoying a career renaissance in Holland with FC
Twente, was handed the LMA's special merit award, while there were
also gongs for Arsenal director Ken Friar, who won the service to
football award, and Ron Atkinson, who was inducted to the LMA's
Hall of Fame.
Richard Bevan, Chief Executive of the LMA, said: "Tonight is a
celebration of this season's managerial achievements throughout all
four leagues at the highest level. To be voted for and acknowledged
by your fellow members, peers and competitors is a great honour and
the ultimate accolade is public recognition of success.
"The manager remains the most important man at a football club
and to succeed in this profession requires extreme dedication and
commitment. Roy received an overwhelming number of votes from the
members and has won the LMA Manager of the Year Award sponsored by
Barclays by the most significant margin in the history of the
award.
"He is highly respected within the game and held in the highest
regard in the family of football. He freely gives up his time to
help other coaches and managers develop and hone their skills and
talents, regularly contributing to the LMA's educational
programmes.
"On behalf of the LMA, I wish Roy and the Fulham players the
very best for this week's Europa League Cup Final in Hamburg. It
will be a tremendous feat if they bring back the cup. I would also
like to say a special thank you to all the members who have
contributed to yet another fantastic season."
