Lampard wins Sir Alex Ferguson Trophy as Arteta takes Premier League manager award

Frank Lampard was named the LMA Manager of the Year at a ceremony in London, claiming the Sir Alex Ferguson Trophy ahead of Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, who took home the division-specific Premier League award.

Arteta had been the standout candidate after ending Arsenal’s 22-year wait for the Premier League title, with the Gunners finishing seven points clear of Manchester City. He also has a Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain still to come. Despite those achievements, it was Lampard — in his role at Coventry City rather than his former club Chelsea — who collected the headline honour.

England head coach Thomas Tuchel presented the trophy and read a letter from Sir Alex Ferguson, whose name the award bears. “It is of course not the same without Sir Alex himself and we wish him all the best and a speedy recovery so that he is hopefully with us next year on stage again,” Tuchel said before delivering Ferguson’s message.

In the letter, Ferguson praised Lampard’s character and style of management. “Your personality as a manager and a leader is so clearly defined in how your team has played great football this season — with confidence and self-belief and I have enjoyed watching you,” Ferguson wrote. “I know from speaking with you that you have great humility and that important quality of a curious mind for learning.”

Coventry’s season under Lampard was remarkable by any measure. The Sky Blues accumulated 95 points to win the Championship and earn promotion to the Premier League for the first time in decades. They will be joined in the top flight by Ipswich Town, who secured an immediate return to the Premier League, and Hull City, who beat Middlesbrough in the Championship play-off final at Wembley.