FL Manager of the Season
Thu Jun 06, 2013 3:15 pm
TT Soccers: FL Manager of the Season
Monday 3rd June 2013 12:38
Rich Kitto steps up to the podium to present the TEAMtalk Soccers award for 2012-13 Football League Manager of the Season.
It's been a season which has drawn increased interest and attention on the Football League, as giant killing became an art form in the domestic cup competitions, Wilfred Zaha became Sir Alex Ferguson's final signing at Manchester United, and Paolo Di Canio ruffled feathers after his move from Swindon to Sunderland.
The managerial merry-go-round was given permanent residence at Ewood Park, as Blackburn Rovers proved that long-term strategies are a thing of the past after sacking three managers in the space of seven months, whilst once sought-after Scot, Alex McCleish, departed Nottingham Forest after just 39 days in charge, and Michael Appleton's property advisors were kept busy as he moved from Portsmouth to Blackburn via Blackpool in just three months.
In total there were 48 managerial movements in the Football League in the 2012/13 campaign, but what of the ones that proved the system wrong and rose to the top under challenging and pressurising circumstances?
Voted by you, our loyal army of readers, here are your top five Football League Managers of the season:
5. Gary Johnson (Yeovil): Just over nine years ago, as his team were beginning to find their feet in the Football League for the very first time, Gary Johnson and his Yeovil side flew the flag for League Two in the FA Cup, as late goals from Danny Murphy and Emile Heskey spared Liverpool's blushes and saw them past the third round of the competition.
If that was seen to have put the town from Somerset on the map, then Johnson's achievement of getting the side into the Championship for the first time in their history enables him to circle the township with a big fat red marker.
The Glovers' tremendous achievement this season was secured after a 2-1 play-off final victory against Sheffield United - and the contrast between the two teams epitomises why such a result earned Johnson the League One Manager of Year award, as while the Blades were playing top-flight football in 2007, Yeovil plundered in the league they've just left.
Johnson has proved he can be a success in the Championship already with his fifth place finish and play-off final loss as manager of Yeovil's close rivals Bristol City - he'll be required to draw on all this experience as his plucky team ventures across pastures new.
4. Gianfranco Zola (Watford): "This is the beginning, we're going to start working straight away. We know what we have to face next year."
So said Gianfranco Zola in the aftermath of his Watford sides extra-time defeat against Crystal Palace in this year's Championship play-off final at Wembley.
Though whilst the experience of this season will act as great experience for his young Watford side, it has perhaps been more beneficial for a manager that many felt was harshly treated at his last, and first, job as manager when at West Ham United.
Many of those managing in the top flight of English football send their young stars on loan to the Championship as 'spending time in the trenches' is seen to toughen them up and prepare them for the Premier League.
This is why current circumstances for Zola could be most valuable for his own long term ambitions, though the 13 loan signings that he has made this year could well sting the Hornets next season.
Football League clubs are expected to vote in favour of capping the number of foreign loans next season, and as the club are currently under a transfer embargo until August 31 for irregular finance payments it has raised fears that Zola could be left with just 14 players once the loans have left.
"This time we are going to be more prepared," as the learning curve continues to steepen for the talented Italian.
3. Ian Holloway (Crystal Palace): "Every dog has its day, and today is a woof day. Today I just want to bark."
Yes we all know of Ian Holloway and his off the wall quotes (a quick search on Google delivers pages of results), and I could comfortably use this section as homage to some of his famous, or rather infamous, one liners.
But whilst it's fantastic to have genuinely likeable characters such as 'Ollie' in our game, it can sometimes detract from just what a fantastic job the Bristolian has done not just at Crystal Palace but throughout his managerial career.
Holloway has now managed in three of the last four Championship play-off finals - previously both winning and losing once with Blackpool - yet not many backed his out-of-form Palace side, without top scorer Glenn Murray, to make it to Wembley this time when they travelled to Brighton for the second leg of the play-off semis with the score at 0-0.
Once there, the Eagles were fully deserving of victory against a Watford team with some talented young players in their ranks.
As was the case when he took Blackpool up in 2010, Holloway has done it against the odds. He has described next season's return to the top flight as a 'hiding to nothing', and will be required to skilfully reinvest the money earned from Zaha's move to Manchester to stand a chance of retaining Palace's top-flight status.
It's great to have him back in the Premier League, and Eagles fans will be hoping for plenty of 'woof days' in the 2013/14 season.
2. Malky Mackay (Cardiff City): Just like buses, or rather the open-topped versions used at parades in this case, the Premier League will next season be home to two Welsh teams as Cardiff City, under their ambitious young manager Malky Mackay, will once again don battle with Swansea City to claim the bragging rights in south Wales.
Welsh football continues to grow from strength to strength, and last season is certainly one to remember as Swansea lifted the Capital One Cup, Gareth Bale announced himself as one of the finest footballers on the planet, and Cardiff City swept away all to win the Championship.
At this point last season fans of the Bluebirds would have been excused for wondering if they would ever get the taste of the big time as they crashed out of the play-offs for the third consecutive season, but fears were to be vanquished as Mackay's side won each of their first 10 games at Cardiff City stadium, in turn starting a charge that maintained consistency throughout the 2012/13 campaign.
Typically, league success is associated with a lead striker finding the net 20+ times throughout a campaign, but you have to scroll a long way down the Championship top scorers table before you reach a Cardiff City name.
Whilst Murray's 30 goals helped to propel Crystal Palace back into the Premier League, the likes of Heidar Helguson, Peter Whittingham, Aron Gunnarsson and Fraizer Campbell all notched up single figure returns to take the title to Wales.
With his modern views on flowing and transitional football you can see why Mackay, named LMA Championship Manager of the Year, has been heavily linked to the current vacancy across the water at Everton.
Bluebirds supporters will be hoping the Scot stays put as their team look to emulate the success of their cross-country neighbours.
1. Phil Parkinson (Bradford City): Not since May 14, 2000 when David Wetherall scored 'that header' to keep Bradford City in the Premier League for another season have fans of the Bantams had so much to celebrate.
Parkinson, a former Colchester, Hull and Charlton manager, took over from Peter Jackson in August 2011 and then guided Bradford to a second successive 18th place finish - but this year would have certainly surpassed his expectations.
A glorious Capital One Cup runners-up spot, which saw Bradford beat Wigan, Arsenal and Aston Villa en route before they eventually surrendered to a strong Swansea side, took them all the way to Wembley and ensured they left a mark in the history books as the first fourth-tier team to ever reach a major cup final at the famous stadium.
It was an absolutely amazing achievement and one that not only put Bradford back on the map, but increased coverage and credence of lower league football.
Five months later the manager, players and fans were back, comfortably defeating Northampton 3-0 in the League Two play-off final to secure status in League One next term.
A few days later Parkinson signed a new three year deal, in turn placing the cherry on the club crest cake and ensuring that Bradford fans will have an extremely optimistic summer.
The Yorkshire club's joint chairman Mark Lawn has confirmed money will be available for Parkinson, and believes the Bantoms can have a good go at the play-offs next year: "If we sit down and give Phil and his staff the right backing and keep that great crowd behind us, then why not?"
As is sometimes the case in life, you're required to take two steps back in order to make one forward, and with Parkinson at the front Bradford fans can certainly be confident that they're making strides in the right direction.
Monday 3rd June 2013 12:38
Rich Kitto steps up to the podium to present the TEAMtalk Soccers award for 2012-13 Football League Manager of the Season.
It's been a season which has drawn increased interest and attention on the Football League, as giant killing became an art form in the domestic cup competitions, Wilfred Zaha became Sir Alex Ferguson's final signing at Manchester United, and Paolo Di Canio ruffled feathers after his move from Swindon to Sunderland.
The managerial merry-go-round was given permanent residence at Ewood Park, as Blackburn Rovers proved that long-term strategies are a thing of the past after sacking three managers in the space of seven months, whilst once sought-after Scot, Alex McCleish, departed Nottingham Forest after just 39 days in charge, and Michael Appleton's property advisors were kept busy as he moved from Portsmouth to Blackburn via Blackpool in just three months.
In total there were 48 managerial movements in the Football League in the 2012/13 campaign, but what of the ones that proved the system wrong and rose to the top under challenging and pressurising circumstances?
Voted by you, our loyal army of readers, here are your top five Football League Managers of the season:
5. Gary Johnson (Yeovil): Just over nine years ago, as his team were beginning to find their feet in the Football League for the very first time, Gary Johnson and his Yeovil side flew the flag for League Two in the FA Cup, as late goals from Danny Murphy and Emile Heskey spared Liverpool's blushes and saw them past the third round of the competition.
If that was seen to have put the town from Somerset on the map, then Johnson's achievement of getting the side into the Championship for the first time in their history enables him to circle the township with a big fat red marker.
The Glovers' tremendous achievement this season was secured after a 2-1 play-off final victory against Sheffield United - and the contrast between the two teams epitomises why such a result earned Johnson the League One Manager of Year award, as while the Blades were playing top-flight football in 2007, Yeovil plundered in the league they've just left.
Johnson has proved he can be a success in the Championship already with his fifth place finish and play-off final loss as manager of Yeovil's close rivals Bristol City - he'll be required to draw on all this experience as his plucky team ventures across pastures new.
4. Gianfranco Zola (Watford): "This is the beginning, we're going to start working straight away. We know what we have to face next year."
So said Gianfranco Zola in the aftermath of his Watford sides extra-time defeat against Crystal Palace in this year's Championship play-off final at Wembley.
Though whilst the experience of this season will act as great experience for his young Watford side, it has perhaps been more beneficial for a manager that many felt was harshly treated at his last, and first, job as manager when at West Ham United.
Many of those managing in the top flight of English football send their young stars on loan to the Championship as 'spending time in the trenches' is seen to toughen them up and prepare them for the Premier League.
This is why current circumstances for Zola could be most valuable for his own long term ambitions, though the 13 loan signings that he has made this year could well sting the Hornets next season.
Football League clubs are expected to vote in favour of capping the number of foreign loans next season, and as the club are currently under a transfer embargo until August 31 for irregular finance payments it has raised fears that Zola could be left with just 14 players once the loans have left.
"This time we are going to be more prepared," as the learning curve continues to steepen for the talented Italian.
3. Ian Holloway (Crystal Palace): "Every dog has its day, and today is a woof day. Today I just want to bark."
Yes we all know of Ian Holloway and his off the wall quotes (a quick search on Google delivers pages of results), and I could comfortably use this section as homage to some of his famous, or rather infamous, one liners.
But whilst it's fantastic to have genuinely likeable characters such as 'Ollie' in our game, it can sometimes detract from just what a fantastic job the Bristolian has done not just at Crystal Palace but throughout his managerial career.
Holloway has now managed in three of the last four Championship play-off finals - previously both winning and losing once with Blackpool - yet not many backed his out-of-form Palace side, without top scorer Glenn Murray, to make it to Wembley this time when they travelled to Brighton for the second leg of the play-off semis with the score at 0-0.
Once there, the Eagles were fully deserving of victory against a Watford team with some talented young players in their ranks.
As was the case when he took Blackpool up in 2010, Holloway has done it against the odds. He has described next season's return to the top flight as a 'hiding to nothing', and will be required to skilfully reinvest the money earned from Zaha's move to Manchester to stand a chance of retaining Palace's top-flight status.
It's great to have him back in the Premier League, and Eagles fans will be hoping for plenty of 'woof days' in the 2013/14 season.
2. Malky Mackay (Cardiff City): Just like buses, or rather the open-topped versions used at parades in this case, the Premier League will next season be home to two Welsh teams as Cardiff City, under their ambitious young manager Malky Mackay, will once again don battle with Swansea City to claim the bragging rights in south Wales.
Welsh football continues to grow from strength to strength, and last season is certainly one to remember as Swansea lifted the Capital One Cup, Gareth Bale announced himself as one of the finest footballers on the planet, and Cardiff City swept away all to win the Championship.
At this point last season fans of the Bluebirds would have been excused for wondering if they would ever get the taste of the big time as they crashed out of the play-offs for the third consecutive season, but fears were to be vanquished as Mackay's side won each of their first 10 games at Cardiff City stadium, in turn starting a charge that maintained consistency throughout the 2012/13 campaign.
Typically, league success is associated with a lead striker finding the net 20+ times throughout a campaign, but you have to scroll a long way down the Championship top scorers table before you reach a Cardiff City name.
Whilst Murray's 30 goals helped to propel Crystal Palace back into the Premier League, the likes of Heidar Helguson, Peter Whittingham, Aron Gunnarsson and Fraizer Campbell all notched up single figure returns to take the title to Wales.
With his modern views on flowing and transitional football you can see why Mackay, named LMA Championship Manager of the Year, has been heavily linked to the current vacancy across the water at Everton.
Bluebirds supporters will be hoping the Scot stays put as their team look to emulate the success of their cross-country neighbours.
1. Phil Parkinson (Bradford City): Not since May 14, 2000 when David Wetherall scored 'that header' to keep Bradford City in the Premier League for another season have fans of the Bantams had so much to celebrate.
Parkinson, a former Colchester, Hull and Charlton manager, took over from Peter Jackson in August 2011 and then guided Bradford to a second successive 18th place finish - but this year would have certainly surpassed his expectations.
A glorious Capital One Cup runners-up spot, which saw Bradford beat Wigan, Arsenal and Aston Villa en route before they eventually surrendered to a strong Swansea side, took them all the way to Wembley and ensured they left a mark in the history books as the first fourth-tier team to ever reach a major cup final at the famous stadium.
It was an absolutely amazing achievement and one that not only put Bradford back on the map, but increased coverage and credence of lower league football.
Five months later the manager, players and fans were back, comfortably defeating Northampton 3-0 in the League Two play-off final to secure status in League One next term.
A few days later Parkinson signed a new three year deal, in turn placing the cherry on the club crest cake and ensuring that Bradford fans will have an extremely optimistic summer.
The Yorkshire club's joint chairman Mark Lawn has confirmed money will be available for Parkinson, and believes the Bantoms can have a good go at the play-offs next year: "If we sit down and give Phil and his staff the right backing and keep that great crowd behind us, then why not?"
As is sometimes the case in life, you're required to take two steps back in order to make one forward, and with Parkinson at the front Bradford fans can certainly be confident that they're making strides in the right direction.