Tony Pulis’ column: ‘Shows why good managers need time’

Many moons ago I received the great recognition of being named the best coach of the season in the Premier League – with Crystal Palace In the year in 2014. Along with the same award I won with Gillingham in Division Three (now League Two) in 1996, it is one of my most treasured memories of my many years in the game.

So who do I think deserves recognition this year? The League Managers Association (LMA) will hold its annual awards dinner on Tuesday, recognizing achievements in the men’s and women’s games. For me, there are several names that stand out.

In the Premier League, the division award has always gone to the manager who finished top of the table – there have only been four occasions since the award was launched in 1993, which is why I was so proud when I was one.

I’ve voted many times myself over the years, but I always respect the managers who have scored the Premier League so many times and on so many occasions have voted instead.

During this time, Arsenal And Manchester City They were two great teams and I’m sure Mikel Arteta and Pep Guardiola will have great success with this prestigious individual award to go along with their team’s impressive campaigns.

However, look below them, and there are many managers worth mentioning.

What Keith Andrews found BrentfordIn his first season as coach, he has been impressive. At the start of the campaign, the Bees were many people’s favorites to be relegated and Keith was top of the bookmaker’s list to become the first manager to be sacked – but he came within a whisker of securing European qualification for the first time.

That award was won by BournemouthAndoni Iraola, who was close to a Champions League place but ended up in the Europa League.

Iraola has managed my former club since 2023 and in that time he has had to constantly sell his best players, but he has built a squad that has stood out, not disappeared.

His success wasn’t the result of just one season — rather, it was a steady year-over-year improvement built over that three-year span.

Andoni didn’t get off to a great start to his time on the south coast – it took him 10 tries to get his first league win, which didn’t arrive until the end of October – but in an era where managers get less time than before, he proved that if you have success, you can and will follow good managers.

Daniel Farke b Leeds At this time – at the end of November, when he was under real pressure to turn their fortunes.

with Regis le Bris at SunderlandBucked the trend with Farke Leeds Maintaining their Premier League status – something we don’t expect from promoted teams.