Hodgson named manager of year after European run

Hodgson is hugely respected by his peers (GETTY IMAGES)

Roy Hodgson has been named as the manager of the year by the League Managers' Association. The Fulham man has guided his side into tomorrow's Europa League final against Atletico Madrid, having taken over just over two years ago with the club appearing certainties for relegation from the Premier League.

Hodgson's team, however, avoided the drop with a dramatic last-day win over Portsmouth and have gone from strength to strength since. None the less, this season's Europa League run – which has seen Juventus, Shakhtar Donetsk, Hamburg and Wolfsburg knocked out – must have taken even the most pro-Hodgson of Fulham supporters by surprise. Sir Alex Ferguson has described Fulham's efforts in Europe this season as "one of the best British performances of all time."

A further boost for the Londoners came with news that volcanic ash clouds should not interfere with their travel plans for getting to the Europa League final in Hamburg. The club, who had drawn up alternative arrangements in case the situation deteriorated, will fly to Hamburg from London as scheduled this morning.