Nuno Espirito Santo has worked wonders at Nottingham Forest since being appointed manager.
In his first six months in charge, Espirito Santo guided the club to safety despite Nottingham Forest breaching PSR rules and incurring a consequent points deduction.
This season, the Portuguese has taken his side to new levels in the Premier League, Nottingham Forest on the cusp of qualifying for the Champions League for the first time since 1980.
It is work that has not gone unnoticed, with David Moyes the latest to speak in support of his fellow manager.
David Moyes tips Nuno Espirito Santo for Premier League Manager of the Year
Speaking to the media ahead of Saturday’s clash between Nottingham Forest and Everton at the City Ground, Moyes gave the highest praise to Espirito Santo.
Asked by a reporter if the Nottingham Forest manager should be considered as Manager of the Season, Moyes responded: “If you’re going to be manager of the year, then it’s more to do with the resources you’ve got as well.
“It doesn’t always go to the people who win [the Premier League] with the biggest resources, the biggest clubs.”
Moyes added: “I think from Nottingham Forest’s position of last season to where they are now, I think it would have to put Nuno in a strong position to get one of those votes [for Manager of the Season].”
It was the highest of compliments for the 51-year-old, and one that is richly deserved based on Forest’s top flight performances and results this season.
Premier League Managers of the Year through history
As Moyes stated in his response, the award for Manager of the Season doesn’t always go to the coach who has guided his team to the Premier League title.
However, it often does.
Indeed, as reported by GiveMeSport, since the Premier League introduced its own award crowning the best manager of each campaign in the 1993/94 season, only five of the winners have not won the title in the same season with their respective clubs.
These are:
- George Burley with Ipswich Town in 2000/01
- Harry Redknapp with Tottenham Hotspur in 2009/10
- Alan Pardew with Newcastle United in 2011/12
- Tony Pulis with Crystal Palace in 2013/14
- Jurgen Klopp with Liverpool in 2021/22
The other 26 winners, a staggering 84% overall, of the Manager of the Season award all won the title in the same campaign.
Espirito Santo therefore has his work cut out if he is to win the award, especially considering the wonders Arne Slot has worked at Liverpool in his first season at Anfield.
Indeed, Jeff Stelling believes Slot should be Manager of the Year, with other pundits sure to follow suit as the season draws to a close.
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