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Antonio Conte breaks Chelsea’s duck with LMA Manager of the Year award

By George Perry

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 21: Chelsea manager Antonio Conte applauds the supporters following the Premier League match between Chelsea and Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on May 21, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Chris Brunskill Ltd/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 21: Chelsea manager Antonio Conte applauds the supporters following the Premier League match between Chelsea and Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on May 21, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Chris Brunskill Ltd/Getty Images) /
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Antonio Conte won the managerial double, taking home the League Managers’ Association and Premier League Manager of the Year awards. He is the first Chelsea manager to receive the LMA honour.

Antonio Conte added to his individual trophy haul for the season, sweeping the two major managerial awards yesterday. He first received the League Managers’ Association manager of the year. He is the second consecutive Italian so honoured, after Claudio Ranieri last season. Conte then took home the Premier League’s manager of the season award, complementing the three manager of the month awards he earned during Chelsea’s 13-game win streak.

Conte is the third manager to win the Premier League manager of the year award in his debut season. Jose Mourinho won in his first season with Chelsea.

Despite Chelsea’s success over the last 15 seasons, a Blue manager had not yet received the award from the LMA. The Premier League-winning manager has only won the LMA award six times: four times by Sir Alex Ferguson, twice by Arsene Wenger and once by Claudio Ranieri. The closest Chelsea came to the award was ex-assistant coach Brendan Rodgers winning when he helmed Liverpool in 2014.

Related Story: Chelsea turn the London Football Awards blue as Conte, Kante and Lampard are honoured

Antonio Conte’s win completes Chelsea’s clean sweep of individual awards. N’Golo Kante won the Premier League player of the year award. He recently received the PFA and the Football Writers Association versions of the award. Antonio Conte and N’Golo Kante earned similar honours two months ago at the London Football Awards.

"I want to thank everyone who voted for me. I work hard in training, I try to give my best and I work with so many very good players; that’s why we won the league two times. – N’Golo Kante, Premier League"

Remarkably, Kante did not win any player of the month awards from the Premier League. Diego Costa and Eden Hazard each won once. Hazard also won a goal of the month award, while Pedro earned two.

Antonio Conte will delay his enjoyment (don’t say “relax”) of his individual honours until after he completes his pursuit of one more team award. After accepting his Premier League manager of the year award, he spoke of preparing “in the right way… to find the right hunger” for the FA Cup final.

Next: John Terry closes a defining era for Chelsea and English football

Like his players, he would rather have an FA Cup or any other team silverware than another individual trinket for himself.

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