Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has been named Manager of the Year by the League Managers’ Association and also accepted the Premier League award at a gala dinner in London on Tuesday night.
The Reds won both the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup after defeating Chelsea on penalties at Wembley in each case – but Manchester City saw a point ahead of them to clinch the Premier League title on a dramatic final day of the season.
Liverpool will look to add the Champions League trophy to their collection when they meet Real Madrid in Paris on Saturday.
Klopp also received the LMA’s Sir Alex Ferguson Trophy, which is voted for by the full membership of managers from all divisions.
“It’s a great honor and it’s been an amazing season,” said Klopp.
“The last matchday where only two games were meaningless and in the rest we all played for absolutely everything.
“It wasn’t the best result for us, but we got through it.
“When you win an award like this, you’re either a genius or you have the best coaching staff in the world – and I’m here with all my coaching teams, they know how much I appreciate them.”
Others on the LMA’s Premier League shortlist included City boss Pep Guardiola, Thomas Frank, who kept Brentford going after a memorable first season, Eddie Howe at Newcastle and Crystal Palace boss Patrick Vieira.
Klopp had also won both LMA awards in the 2019-20 campaign which was disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“This (Sir Alex Ferguson Trophy) that my colleagues voted for is obviously the most important prize you can get,” said the German.
“I don’t generally believe in individual prizes in football, it’s a team sport and without these guys I would be nothing. It’s about what we can do together and what we’ve done together.
“We knew we would be better this season but had no idea we would be consistently better and I’m really proud of the lads for what they’ve done.
“We live in a world where you don’t remember second place – you have to win all the time because of the other guys from Liverpool – and Pep Guardiola obviously deserved that with Manchester City.
“Now we have a chance to play against the most experienced team and manager in the Champions League, but we’ve been there (in the final) three of the last five years so we’ll try.”
The LMA Championship Manager of the Year went to Fulham’s Marco Silva, who led the Cottagers straight back to the top flight and finished two points clear of Bournemouth by 106 goals.
Wigan boss Leam Richardson won the League One award while Matt Taylor was named League Two manager of the year after taking over Exeter but narrowly missing out on the title for Forest Green on goal difference.
Chelsea’s Emma Hayes was voted FA Women’s Super League Manager of the Year and Liverpool’s Matt Beard won the Women’s Championship award.
The LMA Service to Football Award went to Manchester United receptionist Kath Phipps, who has worked for the club for more than 50 years.
QPR’s Chris Ramsey and Manisha Tailor received the Kick It Out and Sky Inclusion Champion Award, while Dr. Sally Harris of HCA Healthcare UK received the LMA Special Recognition Award.
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