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Roy of the Fulham voted top manager

last updated Tuesday 11th May 2010, 12:04 AM
Fulham manager Roy Hodgson
Fulham manager Roy Hodgson
     
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Fulham manager Roy Hodgson has been voted manager of the year by a record margin after steering the west London club to the Europa League final.

Hodgson received the award from the League Managers Association after a poll of coaches, including managers from the top four leagues in England.

Fulham face Atletico Madrid in the Europa League final on Wednesday.

.Hodgson's award is recognition for a remarkable season in which he masterminded Fulham's progress to their first European final, while securing a 12th place finish in the Premier League.

The Cottagers played 18 matches on the road to the final in a campaign that began in July, overcoming the likes of Juventus, Shakhtar, Wolfsburg and Hamburg.

Despite minimal spending in the transfer market, the club never flirted with relegation and only struggled for form at the end of the season when Hodgson began to rest players with the Europa League in mind.

Hodgson arrived at Fulham in December 2007 and led the club on a run of 12 points from their last five games to ensure Premier League survival on the last day of the season.

Last year they achieved their highest ever league position of seventh.

He is a great role model for all aspiring managers and coaches and is fully deserving of this recognition

LMA chief executive Richard Bevan said Hodgson received an "overwhelming" number of votes from 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.

"Roy won the LMA manager of the year award by the most significant margin in the history of the award," said Bevan.

"He is highly respected within the game and held in the highest regard in the family of football."

LMA chairman Howard Wilkinson said: "Since joining Fulham, Roy has transformed the club's fortunes.

"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."

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson had led calls for Hodgson to be given the award, describing his achievements as "miraculous," while Tottenham boss Redknapp called them "unbelievable".

Last week, Hodgson admitted he would like to lead a "big club" in the future but vowed to remain at Fulham for the time being.

In his 34-year managerial career, Hodgson has coached Halmstads, Bristol City, Orebro, Malmo, Neuchatel Xamax, Inter Milan, Blackburn Rovers, Grasshopper, Copenhagen, Udinese, Viking, and Fulham.

He led Switzerland to the last 16 of the 1994 World Cup and qualification for Euro 96, also managing the United Arab Emirates and Finland.







































































Source BBCSport
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