The curious case of Premier League 'Manager of the Month' award
.jpg)
Reading Time: 2min | Fri. 13.09.24. | 20:26
The youngest-ever Premier League head coach is the latest winner, while the four-time consecutive champion has been waiting for it since 2021
Ever since the English Premier League existed, the "Manager of the Month" award has existed as well. The award has been given 279 times so far, and today, we got the 100th different laureate - Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler. The German, born in Texas, USA, is only 31, which makes him the youngest head coach in the competition's history.
First month in the Premier League. First @BarclaysFooty Manager of the Month award 🏅
— Premier League (@premierleague) September 13, 2024
Congratulations, Fabian Hurzeler! #PLAwards | @OfficialBHAFC pic.twitter.com/LfPqv3v8Sl
His award is completely deserved as his Seagulls currently sit in the third spot with seven points and a win and a draw against the favourites in prospect, Man United and Arsenal, respectively. This was the first individual award for the man who decided to retire from playing football already at 23 and to whom his former Bayern Munich II teammate, Emre Can, predicted an outstanding coaching career.
However, another fact about this renowned award is completely mind-blowing. Namely, Pep Guardiola, the four-time consecutive Premier League champion (six in total) and the undisputed ruler of the top tier of English football has not won this accolade since December 2021! For twenty-two playing months!
The last time Pep Guardiola won a Manager of the Month award was in 2021. 🤦🏼♂️
— mcfc lads (@mcfc_lads) September 13, 2024
He won the Manager of the Season last season… 😂 pic.twitter.com/CwiwLAm2dy
For instance, in the meantime, Bruno Lage (Wolverhampton), Mike Jackson (Burnley), Andoni Iraola (Bournemouth), and Sean Dyche (Everton) have all snatched one award each, but not Pep. Moreover, during Guardiola's awardless period, Tottenham's Ange Postecoglou won three consecutive "MOTM" awards in August, September, and October 2023.
However, despite being constantly deprived of this honour in the previous two seasons, the Spaniard ended both of them winning a Premier League "Manager of the Season" award! He has five of those and 11 "MOTM" prizes, sitting in the third position among PL coaches, behind the inviolable Sir Alex Ferguson (27) and Arsene Wenger (15).
And even though Guardiola undoubtedly counts only Premier League trophies as the most essential ones, the competition's management should reconsider their selection method. Of course, Pep should not be named "Manager of the Month" every time, but should his awardless period really last for twenty-two months?
.jpg)
