The Scottish Football Writers announce that they have voted Steven Gerrard as their Manager of The Year. And whilst, in general, the manager that wins the top division was crowned the Scottish Manager of the Year, it seems that during Celtic’s nine in a row era, that most certainly is not the case.
Only on the odd occasion, a manager outwith the league champions is named the MOTY. When something out of the ordinary happens, like a team outwith the Glasgow two going for a cup double, winning a treble or winning the league with a financially doped up team that the club can’t afford. Sound familiar? Well it should because it is happening again to Newco Rangers like it happened to liquidated Rangers.
During Rangers* 9 in a row season, Walter Smith was crowned the FWMOTY five times over that period. FIVE. Most of the titles won with players that they couldn’t afford (you could argue all titles). During that time Jimmy Nichol won it in 94/95 with Raith Rovers after defeating (surprise surprise) Celtic in a League Cup Final.
Undoubtedly a MASSIVE achievement and take nothing away from Rovers. They deserved their win and Nichol deserved the prize. Alex Totten won the award in 90/91 and Andy Roxburgh in 89/90 for obvious reasons. But overall, during Rangers 9IAR Walter Smith picked up the award five times. Five times and one treble.
Which area of the team requires the most investment?GOALKEEPERDEFENCE
MIDFIELD
STRIKER
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Fast forward to Celtic’s incredible second 9IAR and Quadruple Treble, the Celtic manager that won the title only picked up the writers prize four times during that astonishing league winning run. One less than Rangers* but with seventeen trophies compared to Rangers* fourteen.
Brendan Rodgers all but cleaned up Scottish Football for three seasons and although didn’t quite finish off the Treble Treble, the final treble could be attributed to him as it was his team that eventually sealed it albeit under Neil Lennon’s stewardship in 2018/19.
Rodgers only won FWMOTY award once. Once with two trebles and a league cup to his name. Two and a half seasons, seven trophies and the Football Writers awarded him the recognition once. Even though he left in February 2018, he should have won the award that season as well.
Steven Gerrard over this three year period has spent over £40m and during that time has one one major honour. One. The same amount as Callum Davidson at St Johnstone, but could be one less in 10 days time if The Saints manage to pick up the Scottish Cup. And all within a budget they can afford.
There was only one clear winner in mine and many people’s eyes and Davidson should have won the award, but the press men took the easy option to appease the hordes. What a backward footballing world we live in.
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