Why Régis Le Bris Deserves Premier League Manager of Season Award - opinion

Régis Le Bris arrived at Sunderland two years ago, as an unknown entity in English, after overseeing FC Lorient’s relegation from Ligue 1 to the French second tier. 

In his first season as Black Cats boss, the Frenchman inherited a side which finished 16th in the Championship before he arrived, and oversaw their promotion back to the top flight which culminated in their 2-1 comeback win at Wembley against Sheffield United in the play-off final. 

Miraculously, Le Bris has managed to surpass his spectacular efforts from last season, and deliver one of the most remarkable footballing stories in recent memory.

Ahead of the campaign’s conclusion, Le Bris was nominated for the Premier League Manager of the Season award alongside some esteemed company akin to Mikel Arteta and Pep Guardiola, but now that the season has climaxed it is clear why the Black Cats boss deserves that illustrious prize. 

During just his second season as Sunderland boss, Le Bris ensured that the Black Cats not only thrived, but survived upon their return to England’s footballing elite. 

Despite the naysayers, doubters, OPTA supercomputer and pundits predicting Sunderland to suffer an instant demotion back to the Championship, Le Bris and his team defied the odds. 

Sunderland never looked like contenders for relegation, and in the early stages of the season found themselves towards the top end of the table after enjoying a stunning start to life back in the top flight. 

Le Bris’ side have taken points from all of the ‘big six’ sides this season, beating Chelsea twice in the process after the billionaire-backed Blues left Wearside with a crushing 2-1 defeat on final-day.

Further down the table, Le Bris also oversaw Sunderland doing the double over the arch-rivals Newcastle United, with a commanding 1-0 on home soil followed up by an outstanding 2-1 comeback win at St James’ Park to see the power dynamic in north east football shift forever. 

Towards the end of the season, Le Bris led Sunderland to four consecutive games unbeaten, which concluded with the stunning 2-1 victory over Chelsea to see the Black Cats finish their remarkable comeback in seventh place, cementing their spot in the Europa League.

A genuinely remarkable footballing feat, made all the more impressive considering that Le Bris’ Sunderland side yields the lowest total squad cost in the Premier League at around £178m.

Le Bris’ acumen made a mockery of the expected goals philosophy, his man-management help gel a squad with 13 new summer arrivals into a unified group determined to defy the doubters, and his in-game tactical ability helped see Sunderland earn the most points from losing positions in the Premier League this season with 22.

Given his selfless demeanour, Le Bris may well go under-the-radar regarding the award, but even if he is overlooked, it is for certain that Sunderland fans will never forget his inspired efforts this season.