Top Ten Managers Of The Season...

10) Gary Megson (Bolton)
It's not fashionable to praise the man, especially in Bolton, but Megson has kept the Trotters well away from the relegation mire with a relatively small squad (only 12 players have started ten-plus Premier League games) and very little pulling power in terms of new recruits. There have been questions asked - Johan Elmander has done very little to justify his fee - but high points have included a trio of England players close to a call-up, getting £4m for the busted flush that is Kevin Nolan and giving Chelsea a bloody good scare at Stamford Bridge.



9) Steve Bruce (Wigan)
Apparently he has told Dave Whelan that the Wigan team that began 2009 in seventh place was probably the best he will ever see at the club. It's a massive shame that he then had no choice but to sell Emile Heskey and Wilson Palacios, while Amr Zaki hijacked his own future with his lack of professionalism. He will lose Luis Antonio Valencia as well, but such is the lot of the Latics manager. But what he has achieved has been admirable: keeping Wigan well clear of relegation, making millions on Palacios and - last but by no means least - turning Titus Bramble into a decent defender.



8) Guus Hiddink (Chelsea)
Claiming 31 points from 12 games is championship form, but unfortunately for Chelsea, Guus Hiddink arrived too late to seriously battle for the title. He also came within a whisker of beating the best footballing team in Europe over two legs and he could yet say farewell with a trophy. Under Hiddink, Didier Drogba has looked motivated and Florent Malouda has looked like a footballer - no wonder Chelsea fans sang 'We want you to stay, we want you to stay'. For English football's sake, we hope he will be back.



7) Harry Redknapp (Spurs)
Anyone who has more than glanced at Football365 over the last five years will know that we are reluctant to send any credit the way of 'Arry Redknapp. We abhor his 'two points from eight games' self-promotional mantra, but we have to acknowledge that under his management, Spurs have gone from relegation fodder to within reach of a European place in a matter of a few months. That he has spent £40m-plus in January to take Spurs close to where they should have been this season anyway is just a footnote in a remarkable recovery.



6) Gianfranco Zola (West Ham)
This high up the list as much for his attitude as his tactics or man-management, Gianfranco Zola has steadfastly refused to blame referees or look for excuses when things have gone wrong for West Ham this season. Zola has had to contend with a massive and seemingly endless injury list and his top scorer being sold in January, but the Hammers have held firm in the top half of the table despite Zola having no choice but to blood the likes of James Tomkins, Jack Collison and Junior Stanislas. And anyone who can make Carlton Cole into an England international striker deserves any plaudits thrown his way.



5) Rafa Benitez (Liverpool)
'Mixed' would be the one-word description of Rafa's season. Although he emerges without silverware, his stock has never been higher among Liverpool fans who wanted - and were given - a title challenge. They played the most devastating attacking football of the season when let loose against Manchester United and Real Madrid, but were ultimately punished for failing to beat poorer opposition. There was the 'rant' and the Robbie Keane saga but all in all, it has been a year of progress for Liverpool that's already making us just a little bit excited about next season.



4) David Moyes (Everton)
Points and position-wise, Everton have stood still from last season, but throw in an FA Cup final and the pertinent facts about Moyes' bad fortune with injuries, and the Toffees have undoubtedly made progress. Strikers Victor Anichebe, James Vaughan, Louis Saha and Yakubu made just 29 Premier League starts in total this season so Moyes moved for the much-maligned Jo on loan and shuffled his pack to give Tim Cahill and Marouane Fellaini spells up front. The likes of Steven Pienaar and Phil Jagielka have made strides again this season and a Wembley final has provided just reward for a manager who consistently over-achieves on relatively small resources.



3) Sir Alex Ferguson (Manchester United)
There are no superlatives left in the superlative drawer to describe the achievement of three consecutive Premier League titles and 11 in total. This season may not have been spectacular in football terms, but Sir Alex has set a new bar in terms of keeping 20-odd players relatively happy despite all but four or five being uncertain whether they will be involved from one week to the next. They used to say the best managers know their best XI...we think that old adage can be put to bed now.



2) Tony Pulis (Stoke City)
While Mark Hughes demands more respect for his achievements at Manchester City, it's worth noting that the richest club in the world could yet end the season below Stoke. That's a Stoke side given pretty much zero chance of survival by us and everyone else outside the Potteries prior to the start of the season. We underestimated the influence of the Britannia Stadium crowd, the efficacy of direct football and the ability of Tony Pulis to give his team absolute belief. Astute in the transfer market, the signings of Abdoulaye Faye and then James Beattie have to go down as two of the buys of the season.



1) Roy Hodgson (Fulham)
And he had this award in the bag even before he took a pop at Jamie Redknapp's ridiculous, insular rant about that Norwegian (can you believe they gave the job to a Norwegian?) referee. From perennial relegation battlers to European challengers and all done without spending a vast amount of money. Fulham have the most settled team in the Premier League (only 13 players have started ten-plus games) and Hodgson has been rewarded with neat, incisive football and an admirably tight defence. He pulled off two of the transfer deals of the season by getting Mark Schwarzer on a free transfer and eking £5m out of Hull for Jimmy Bullard. Truly, truly brilliant.


Sarah Winterburn