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Willie Duncan examines BetVictor's LMA Manager of the Year market and is tipping Swansea City boss Michael Laudrup to pick up this season's prize

Swansea City boss Michael Laudrup is BetVictor’s 8/11 (1.73) favourite to lift this season’s coveted League Manager's Association Manager of the Year award after enjoying a successful debut season in charge at Liberty Stadium.

The Dane, who replaced Brendan Rodgers as Swansea manager in the summer, led the Swans to the first major trophy in the club’s 101 year history when he masterminded their Capital One Cup triumph this term, a campaign which culminated in a 5-0 demolition of Bradford City in the final of the competition.

League Manager's Association Manager of the Year Betting
Odds from BetVictor
Michael Laudrup	8/11
Sir Alex Ferguson	11/4
Andre Villas-Boas	12/1
Steve Clarke	16/1
Any other League manager	20/1
Roberto Mancini	33/1

Some pundits had suggested that the Swans could be relegation candidates this term following Rodgers’ departure for Anfield, but Laudrup has steered his side to mid-table safety and his efforts in his first season as a boss in English football are likely to be lauded by his fellow peers.

Sir Alex Ferguson, of course, is a three-times winner of this award and BetVictor go 11/4 (3.75) that the Scot, who seems set to wrestle the Premier League title back from city rivals Manchester City, regains the award that he last picked up in 2011.

Andre Villas-Boas has enjoyed a fine first season in charge of Tottenham Hotspur, having steered his side into the last eight of the Europa League while the north London club are also serious contenders in the race to secure a Uefa Champions League qualification berth.

Despite that, Villas-Boas remains a dark horse for the award with BetVictor offering 12/1 (13.0) that the former Chelsea manager scoops the Manager of the Year award while West Bromwich Albion boss Steve Clarke can be backed at 16/1 (17.0) with the same firm to bag the illustrious accolade.

On just three occasions, the prize has been collected by a manager outside of England’s top flight and BetVictor offer a chunky 20/1 (21.0) that a boss from any league outside of the Premier League scoops the award this year while Manchester City's Roberto Mancini is rated as a 33/1 (34.0) chance.

Sir Alex Ferguson is a strong contender but it should be noted that on just five occasions, the Premier League’s title-winning manager has picked up the accolade so, with that in mind, the 8/11 (1.73) quote from Swans boss Laudrup to top off a fantastic season in style by being crowned as the League Manager’s Association Manager of the Year for 2013 is too good to miss.

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Michael Laudrup to be named League Manager's Association Manager of the Year at 8/11 (1.73) with BetVictor

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