Manager of the year – Fulham boss Roy Hodgson
Fulham manager Roy Hodgson was elected the year with a record margin after taxes of the West London club to Europe League final.
Hodgson has received the award from the League Managers Association, according to a poll of coaches, managers, including the first four championships in England.
Fulham face Atletico Madrid in Europe League final on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the League sponsors Barclays appointed Harry Redknapp, manager of the year and Wayne Rooney the best player.
Premium HodgsonRecognition for an extraordinary season in which he masterminded the progress Fulham to their first European final, ensuring a final 12th Place in the Premier League.
The Cottagers played 18 games on the way to the final of a campaign that began in July, surpassing the love of Juventus, Shakhtar, Wolfsburg and Hamburg.
Despite the minimum turnover in the transfer market, the association has never been faced with relegation and only for form at the end of the season, when he started resting Hodgson flirtedEuropean players in the league in mind.
Hodgson arrived at Fulham in December 2007 and led the club on a path of 12 points in the last five games to ensure Premier League survival on the last day of the season.
Last year they reached their highest ever league position of seventh.
He is a great example to all aspiring managers and trainers and is fully deserves this recognition
LMA chairman Howard Wilkinson
LMA chief executive Richard Bevan said Hodgson received a”The overwhelming majority of the votes of 256 members, leaders of all 92 league clubs, coaches retired together, and in participating in play at the line.
“Roy has the LMA Manager of the Year with the most important margin in the history of the award,” said Bevan.
“It is highly respected in the game and taking full account of the football family.”
LMA chairman Howard Wilkinson said: “Since joining Fulham, Roy, the association isAssets.
“He is highly respected by members of the AML and also internationally, where he his miracles in no fewer than seven countries.
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson had brought Hodgson asks for award of the prize will be describing his performance as a “miracle”, while Tottenham boss Redknapp called it “unbelievable.”
Last week, Hodgson admitted he would like to make a “big club” in the future, but promised to keep Fulham in the moment.
In his34 years management career he coached Halmstads Hodgson, Bristol City, Orebro, Malmo, Neuchatel Xamax, Inter Milan, Blackburn Rovers, Grasshoppers, Copenhagen, Udinese, Viking, and Fulham.
He led the Swiss to the last 16 of the 1994 World Cup and qualifying for the Euro 1996, including the administration of the United Arab Emirates and Finland.
Redknapp won award comes after Spurs for the Champions League as Manchester City, Aston Villa and Liverpool qualified in fourth placeinstead.
Manchester United striker Rooney award completes a hat-trick, having already collected, the Professional Footballers ‘Association and the Football Writers’ Awards for this season.
The LMA also a special award for services to the former British boss Steve McClaren, FC Twente for the first Dutch league title awarded in its history, led by 45 years.
Man Utd 2 – 1 Liverpool
By Phil McNulty – Chief football writer at Old Trafford
Manchester United came from behind to beat Liverpool at Old Trafford to return to the Premier League summit.
Fernando Torres was United’s tormentor again as he rose to head in Dirk Kuyt’s cross after only five minutes to revive memories of Liverpool’s crushing 4-1 victory here last season – but United were to exact revenge on their arch-rivals.
Liverpool were furious when United were handed the opportunity to draw level swiftly as referee Howard Webb awarded a penalty as the outstanding Antonio Valencia was hauled back by Javier Mascherano as the pair raced into the area.
Wayne Rooney was unsettled by Liverpool’s lengthy and vociferous protests, but when his penalty was saved by keeper Pepe Reina he was first to react and turn in the rebound.
United then held sway and snatched a deserved winner on the hour when Darren Fletcher’s cross deep into the heart of the Liverpool penalty area was headed in by Ji-Sung Park.
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez, who confronted fourth official Andre Marriner and United boss Sir Alex Ferguson after Rooney’s equaliser, was infuriated by the penalty award – and was also animated throughout by what he clearly regarded as a succession of contentious decisions that he believed went in the home side’s favour.
Goalscorer Torres led Liverpool’s other complaints against officialdom, and he became increasingly frustrated at virtually having to battle single-handedly against Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic, who ended an unwanted record of three dismissals in his last three games against the Merseysiders.
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard was desperately disappointing, although he created a late opportunity which Torres missed. Yossi Benayoun should have done better than head the loose ball tamely at Edwin van der Sar.
Ferguson will have regarded this as one of the most difficult tests of United’s title run-in, and his succession of clenched-fist salutes at the final whistle demonstrated his delight.
For Liverpool counterpart Benitez, he watched his side fade badly as they lost further ground in the battle for fourth spot and a place in next season’s Champions League.
Ferguson and Benitez made a single change each to their teams, with Park replacing Dimitar Berbatov for United and Maxi Rodriguez coming in for Ryan Babel in the Liverpool line-up.
United’s boss insisted they had learned the lessons of being terrorised by Torres last season – but apparently not well enough as the Spain striker quickly emphasised his class.
Gerrard released Kuyt on the right, leaving Torres to escape from Vidic and Ferdinand to plant a firm header beyond the reach of Van der Sar.
United were level seven minutes later in contentious circumstances, following referee Webb’s decision to award a penalty after Valencia tangled with Mascherano. It was a foul, but Liverpool felt the infringement started outside the area and chaotic scenes ensued.
As Liverpool boss Benitez raged on the touchline, Torres kicked away the penalty spot markings in fury as Rooney complained about the delay.
Liverpool keeper Reina blocked Rooney’s spot-kick, but the rebound fell kindly for the England striker to slot home into an empty net.
Ferguson and Benitez were then involved in an angry exchange almost nose-to-nose in the technical area, with fourth official Marriner in between the pair in an attempt to keep the peace.
Valencia was United’s main source of danger as he tormented Emiliano Insua down the right flank, and his cross almost created a second for Park as he headed just wide with Reina scrambling across his goal.
Benitez focused on fourth despite defeat
Torres, in particular, appeared aggrieved by what Liverpool saw as a grave injustice and he took his frustration out on Park to earn an overdue yellow card, his fifth in seven games.
Reina was tested twice by Nani’s shot and a Rooney free-kick from the edge of the area before the interval, but the game had settled after an explosive opening.
The sparring continued in the early stages after half-time, but United managed to pierce the massed ranks of Liverpool’s defence to take the lead after an hour. Fletcher was the creator with a perfect cross from the right flank, and Park bravely hurled himself in front of Johnson to head beyond Reina.
Rooney had been hugely industrious in his efforts to ensure United’s victory, and he was almost on the scoresheet again with four minutes left, but he pulled a low shot just wide.
Liverpool had barely troubled United in the second half, but with only a minute remaining of normal time they conspired to waste a wonderful chance to snatch a point.
Gerrard, an anonymous figure until then, set up Torres with a cross. He mis-hit his shot, but it lofted invitingly into the path of Benayoun, who headed straight at Van der Sar from only six yards.
United were then able to play out five minutes of stoppage time – and the celebrations from players and fans at the final whistle illustrated just how vital this victory was to the champions.
Source: English Premier League Football News at BBC Sport News
Beckham will not celebrate scoring against Man Utd
David Beckham is on loan at AC Milan from LA Galaxy
English Premier League News – BBC Sport : David Beckham will not celebrate if he scores for AC Milan against Manchester United in the Champions League.
He will face his former club for the first time since leaving in 2003 when AC Milan host United on 16 February.
Beckham told Inside United magazine: “I do not think I would celebrate. I respect the supporters and the club.
“To me they are the best fans in the world and the support they gave me week in, week out was incredible. Nothing will ever better that.”
The midfielder, who is on loan at Milan from LA Galaxy, still remembers and appreciates the support given to him by United fans after he was sent off while playing for England against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup.
“The relationship I have with the fans is still important to me,” he said. “I went through some difficult times but they never stopped supporting me.
“I would not have got through everything without them.”
Beckham played 394 times for United over eight seasons, helping the club win six Premier League titles, two FA Cups and the Champions league.
“I always wish I was part of Manchester United, it is just in me. Even though I am not there any more, I am still a huge fan,” he said.
“Coming to terms with not being a United player was certainly the toughest thing I’ve ever had to deal with.
“When you are a Manchester United player and a Manchester United fan you never want to play for any other club.
“I always want them to do well and be successful because the club still means so much to me. I’ve still got season tickets and I will always keep them because I love to watch every game where possible.
“I would love to take my sons one day. United will always be such a special place to me, so we will just have to see what the future holds.”
Beckham will go back to Old Trafford for the first time as a player when Milan travel to Manchester for the second leg of their Champions League clash on 10 March.
“When I was at Real Madrid it just never felt right to come back to Old Trafford. The thought of playing against United always gave me that sick feeling because I missed the club so much,” he said.
“But when the draw was made this time it felt as though it was the right time to go back. I felt really emotional.
“It will also be extremely emotional for myself and my family on the night. I met so many amazing people during my time there, on and off the pitch, that I am looking forward to seeing everyone again.”
Source: English Premier League News, BBC Sport.
Wayne Rooney as good as Ronaldinho says David Beckham
Beckham (left) and Rooney (right) are England team-mates
English Premier League News – BBC Sport : AC Milan midfielder David Beckham believes Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney is now as good as two-time world player of the year Ronaldinho.
Beckham and team-mate Ronaldinho will face Rooney when United travel to Milan for Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final first-leg match.
Asked if England team-mate Rooney was comparable to the Brazilian, Beckham said: “Without a doubt.
“I’ve always said Wayne is one of the best goalscorers in football.”
Rooney has scored 23 goals in 32 appearances for United this season as the club seek to retain their Premier League crown as well as progress to the knockout stages of the Champions League.
The 24-year-old has shouldered much of the goalscoring responsibility following world player of the year Cristiano Ronaldo’s £80m departure to Real Madrid in the summer.
And Beckham insists Rooney is on a par with Ronaldinho, who twice won the Spanish league with Barcelona and the World Cup with Brazil in 2002.
“He is at a great club like Manchester United and he’s doing what he does best – scoring goals,” said the 34-year-old, who is on loan at Milan from LA Galaxy.
The match at the San Siro represents an emotional occasion for Beckham, who joined United as a youngster and won six Premier League titles and the 1999 Champions League before leaving for Real Madrid in 2003.
Robert Heenan
“It’s one of the biggest games for me personally. But the most important thing is the team going through and beating United which I hope we do,” explained Beckham.
“United are on fire, they’re playing well. Wayne is scoring goals like he can. It’s going to be a tough game.”
Like United, Milan lost a prized asset – Kaka – to Real Madrid in the summer, as well as coming to terms with the retirement of legendary defender Paolo Maldini.
Their performances this season have been inconsistent – Friday’s victory 3-2 win over Udinese ended a run of four straight defeats – but Beckham feels the Rossoneri can still match favourites United.
“Obviously there are a couple of players not here but the team is just the same, they’ve got this great team spirit within the squad and that’s definitely not changed,” added Beckham.
Bolton boss Owen Coyle positive on Gary Cahill recovery
Cahill's presence could have a big impact on Bolton's survival chances
English Premier League News – BBC Sport : Bolton’s Gary Cahill is making good progress in his recovery from a blood clot, according to manager Owen Coyle.
The clot was feared to have ended the 24-year-old defender’s hopes of a place in England’s World Cup squad.
“We don’t want to get ahead of ourselves but the clot has dissolved. We’ll revisit it in two weeks and we’ll see what the picture is,” said Coyle.
“But there should be some news in two weeks and hopefully it will be of the better variety.”
Cahill was treated in hospital after being taken ill last week but is now recuperating at home.
Former England Under-21 international Cahill, a £5m signing from Aston Villa two years ago, had been one of Bolton’s most consistent players this season.
He was part of England’s squad for the World Cup qualifying victory over Kazakhstan in June 2009 but is yet to win a senior cap.