Online Reporter
MIKEL ARTETA has been sensationally beaten by Frank Lampard to the top gong at the League Managers Association annual awards.
The title-winning Arsenal boss collected the Premier League manager of the year award, as voted by members of the LMA.
Yet he was incredibly snubbed by his fellow bosses for the main award.
Championship-winning Coventry manager Lampard, who guided the club back to the top-flight after 25 years, received the most votes from fellow bosses.
The Chelsea legend picked up the Sir Alex Ferguson Trophy from England manager Thomas Tuchel.
Lampard said: “Wow. I moved from player to manager really quickly and I did not know much. Thank you to everyone who voted for me.
“British managers are pretty good. It is true.
“They are not idiots saying old school stuff. They are not dinosaurs. I have had messages from a lot of managers – and I will drop Pep Guardiola in there – and a lot of British managers know the score.
“It means a lot when managers like Steve Bruce and Sean Dyche send you a message after a game.”
The nominees for the main award were Brentford‘s Keith Andrews, Arteta, Aston Villa‘s Unai Emery, Guardiola of Manchester City, Bournemouth‘s Andoni Iraola, Lampard, Lincoln manager Michael Skubala and Bromley boss Andy Woodman.
Arteta collected the first award of the night in central London as he got his Premier League gong.
The Gunners boss, who will bid for a stunning double in the Champions League final on Saturday, said: “First of all, thank you so much for giving me the award. It means a lot.
“I’m extremely grateful. And I will eternally be grateful to everyone at the club to have given me the chance,
“They made me enjoy this profession in a way that I probably could not imagine. And they have given me support and I’ve learnt some things over the years. Because that’s the way it works.
“You get better, you learn and you try to improve yourself.
“You cannot do anything without the best people in the world around you. I’m so privileged that I’ve got it in every department. But especially the people that work with me every single day.
“They work so many hours with me. I cannot be more grateful to them, to their families. That they have been with them through a lot of days of work.
“And I’m glad to deliver that joy. And that moment for all of them is an unforgettable moment.” – Sun
