Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson named Manager of the Year at London Football Awards
There were also big wins for Harry Kane and Fulham youngster Ryan Sessegnon
Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson has been named Manager of the Year at the London Football Awards, while there were also big wins for Tottenham striker Harry Kane and Fulham youngster Ryan Sessegnon.
Hodgson was honoured for lifting Palace outside of the relegation zone, having taken the job with the club sat rock bottom of the Premier League.
Since Hodgson’s return to Selhurst Park, Palace have won 27 points which would be good enough for 14th-place in the table if the season had started when he was appointed. They currently sit just one place above the drop zone, although a win this weekend could see them rise as high as 13th.
Elsewhere, Kane was honoured with the Premier League Player of the Year award – the first time he has won the prize.
Kane has enjoyed an outstanding 2017 and finished as the top goalscorer across Europe’s top-five leagues with 56 goals for club and county in the last calendar year.
He also won the Golden Boot for the second successive season at the end of the last campaign. Kane is looking to become just the third player – after Alan Shearer and Thierry Henry – to finish as the Premier League’s top scorer three campaigns in a row, and currently top this season’s scoring charts.
But Fulham youngster Sessegnon was the star of the show. The 17-year-old – who has been linked with a number of Premier League clubs – took home the Young Player of the Year Award and the EFL Player of the Year Award.
“I’m honoured to receive this award,” the teenager said after the ceremony. “I’d like to say thank you to everyone, thank you to the team. This season we’ve played some really good football.”
There was also an award for Ian Wright, who was recognised for his outstanding contribution to the sport.
“For me to get this recognition is fantastic,” he said. “I didn’t win too much as an individual so it’s very humbling. Bob Wilson and his Willow Foundation, who organise the event, do unbelievable work with seriously ill young adults. I’ve seen some of the special days they’ve given people and they really are very emotional.”
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