Friday, April 30, 2010

Hodgson tipped for manager award

Roy Hodgson
Hodgson has received the salutations and praise of his fellow managers

Roy Hodgson is being tipped to receive the manager of the year award after leading Fulham to the Europa League final and Premier League safety.

Fulham, currently 12th in the table, beat Hamburg on Wednesday to set up a 12 May final against Atletico Madrid.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson described Hodgson's work as "miraculous", adding: "He should be manager of the year, no doubt at all."

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp said: "What Roy has done is amazing, unbelievable."

He added: "You look at the teams Fulham have beaten in Europe it's not exactly been easy.

"They've had a real tough run - teams like Shakhtar Donetsk, Juventus, Hamburg… just amazing results. He deserves all the credit in the world."

The manager of the year award is presented by the League Managers Association and is voted for by the association's 256 members, made up of all 92 league clubs' bosses, retired coaches, and those still involved in the game below managerial level.

The votes for the award were cast in early April, with the result announced at an awards ceremony on 10 May.

Hodgson is favourite to secure the honour after leading Fulham comfortably to mid-table and taking them through 18 Europa League matches, overcoming the likes of Shakhtar, Juventus, Wolsfburg and Hamburg, to reach the final in Germany next month.

It is a remarkable achievement for the Cottagers, who in 1996 were eight places off the bottom of the entire Football League in League Two.

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And only two years ago, Fulham looked certainties to suffer relegation into the Championship until Hodgson led them on a run of 12 points from their last five games to ensure survival on the last day of the season, at the expense of Birmingham and Reading.

It makes Hodgson and Fulham's achievements this season all the more impressive, and Ferguson said: "It is a miracle.

"Hopefully Roy does [win] manager of the year now [because] it is one of the best British performances of all time.

"It was their 59th game of the season. He was doing well to get those players onto the pitch, ad they still have another four games to play.

"They started in that tournament in July. Crikey, I was on the beach."

Wolves manager Mick McCarthy echoed Ferguson's sentiments.

"Roy and Fulham have had a couple of fantastic seasons. Since going in there, Roy has really improved things. They are a really solid team.

"Don't forget, they were 4-1 down to Juventus at one stage and to come back and win that game and get to the final is amazing.

"Roy has got my vote as manager of the year. I think he deserves it. He has made the most of his resources without any shadow of a doubt. It is a fantastic achievement."

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