Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder beats Manchester City's Pep Guardiola to LMA gong

The accolades keep coming for Chris Wilder - the Sheffield United boss has been named the League Managers' Association manager of the year, beating Manchester City's treble-chasing Pep Guardiola to the award.
Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder celebrates promotion.Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder celebrates promotion.
Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder celebrates promotion.

Wilder, who has also been named the Championship's manager of the year by the EFL, was awarded the same prize on Tuesday night for his job in steering Sheffield United into the Premier League.

And he was also named the overall LMA manager of the year, receiving the award from Sir Alex Ferguson.

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Asked at the awards doo if he wanted Leeds United to join the Blades in the top flight, Wilder responded: “I am not bothered about Leeds. We are up.”

He added: "To be voted for by your peers to get this award is just unbelievable and caps off an incredible season for me and everybody at Sheffield United.

"I would like to think we have struck a blow for recruitment, training ground, teaching and all the other stuff which goes on behind the scenes - there is no cheque book culture."

Wilder, who took over the Blades when they were in League One and has steered them to two promotions in three seasons, added: "It just shows you this can happen, it is dreams, inspiration for everybody.

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"There is a pathway through for all of us and hopefully it has shown the way for everybody else."

LMA manager of the year, Chris WilderLMA manager of the year, Chris Wilder
LMA manager of the year, Chris Wilder

On the challenges ahead, Wilder said: "If we can stay in the Premier League, that would be fantastic.

"It is an exciting and unbelievable experience we are going into."

Guardiola has been named the League Managers' Association manager of the year after guiding Manchester City to a successful Premier League title defence.

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City beat Brighton on Sunday to secure the championship ahead of rivals Liverpool by just one point after what had been one of the most closely-fought contests of recent seasons.

Having also won the Carabao Cup earlier in the campaign, Guardiola's side could complete a clean sweep of all three domestic honours when they face Watford in the FA Cup final at Wembley on Saturday.

Guardiola collected his accolade at the LMA Awards dinner in London on Tuesday night, topping the vote ahead of Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino and Nuno Espirito Santo of Wolves.

Speaking at the awards dinner, Guardiola said: "I want to share this, of course, with my players, because they are the artists of everything, and to my staff because we fought a lot.

"Also, for all the managers in the Premier League, especially Jurgen Klopp - he was an incredible contender to face until the end.

"It was a pleasure to play against all of them."