SILOGO

Vote in the Football League Awards!

Sports Interactive are proud to announce that we are the sponsors of the "Football Manager™ Outstanding Managerial Achievement" category at the Football League Awards 2012 & YOU, as a member of our community, get to decide who gets the prestigious award!

The "Football Manager™ Outstanding Managerial Achievement" award acknowledges those leaders that orchestrate generation defining moments for their club and its fans.

Over the last few days we've been asking for nominations on Twitter, Facebook and our forums for those who you think are worthy and these are the managers you've come up with.

Who are you going to vote for? Choose who you think is the most Outstanding Manager of 2011 in the poll on the right hand side of the page.

Gus Poyet - Brighton & Hove Albion Winning the npower League 1 title
In his first managerial position Poyet has worked wonders at Brighton & Hove Albion. Having taken over in late 2009 with the club languishing towards the bottom of League 1, he built upon a successful first season by inspiring the Seagulls to the 2010/11 npower League 1 title in style. They finished ahead of south coast rivals Southampton in what was Poyet’s first full season in charge to secure Championship football for the first season at the Seagull’s new stadium. This season has seen them continue this upward progression, as well as doing a North East cup ‘double’ over Sunderland and Newcastle United.
Richie Barker - Bury Took Bury up automatically after being put in temporary charge
Barker was appointed caretaker manager at Gigg Lane on April Fool’s Day last season following Alan Knill’s departure to Scunthorpe United. He led Bury on a stunning run of six consecutive wins from his first six games in charge to secure promotion from npower League 2. That run culminated in a dramatic 3–2 victory at league leaders and ultimate champions Chesterfield to send the Shakers up.
Malky Mackay - Cardiff City Reaching the Carling Cup Final
Mackay only took over as boss of the Bluebirds last summer, but has already achieved what will be a momentous occasion for all Cardiff City fans – a Wembley appearance in the Final of the Carling Cup later this month. A run that included them knocking out Premier League side Blackburn Rovers in the quarter-finals saw them triumph over two legs against Crystal Palace in the semi-finals to give themselves a shot a taking the first silverware of the season in the Final against Liverpool.
Dougie Freedman - Crystal Palace Leading Palace to one of their greatest ever results
Freedman only took over as Crystal Palace boss on 1st January 2011, with the club lying in 23rd place in the npower Championship and only recently out of administration. However, after winning a relegation battle to keep the Eagles in the division, he finished the year having led them to one of their greatest ever results. The quarter-finals of the Carling Cup in December saw Palace travel to face Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United. With the help of a wonder goal from Darren Ambrose they stunned the Old Trafford crowd to run out 2-1 extra-time winners and put Palace fans in wonderland.
Lee Clark - Huddersfield Town Unbeaten for 43 games to set a new all time League record
In only his second full season as a manager Clark inspired his Huddersfield side to record breaking achievements with a remarkable 43-match unbeaten League run. When Brian Clough’s great Nottingham Forest side went 42 games unbeaten in 1977/78 many thought it was a feat that would never be matched. Clark’s team however went one better to re-write The Football League record books. Starting on the 1st January the Terriers remained undefeated for the remainder of the 2010/11 League season, and carried that on until 28th November before they lost a League game, a defeat at leaders Charlton Athletic.
Paul Lambert - Norwich City Promotion from the npower Championship
May 2011 saw Paul Lambert’s Norwich City celebrating for the second season in a row. Last season he took Norwich up from the npower Championship automatically in impressive fashion, following on from promotion from League 1 the previous season.  Against many expectations the Canaries have excelled so far in the Premier League.
Nigel Adkins - Southampton Promotion from npower League 1
Former-Scunthorpe manager Adkins took over Southampton 5 games into the 2010/11 season with the pre-season promotion favourites well down the table. His arrival coincided with an improvement in form that meant they started 2011 in 2nd place, a position they retained up to the end of the season, ensuring automatic promotion to the Championship behind title-winners Brighton. This season they have continued this excellent form, outperforming pre-season expectations to sit amongst the promotion contenders.
Graham Westley - Stevenage Leading Stevenage to Play-Off glory
In his first season managing in the Football League Westley inspired his Stevenage side to their second successive promotion, beating Torquay United in the npower League 2 Play-Off Final after a fantastic end to the season lifted them from mid-table. This remarkable rise has continued into the 2011/12 season, with Stevenage pushing for yet more glory. That success will be without Westley though, whose achievements at the Lamex Stadium caught the eye of Preston North End and saw him move to take over at Deepdale last month.