Out of a list of worthy contenders, only one head coach can be honoured as the best of the 2020/21 campaign at the Dolan Warren awards on Wednesday night.
A collective vote cast by coaches around the league will decide which A-League head coach is named as the best of the 2020/21 campaign at the virtual awards night taking place from 7.30pm (AEST) on Wednesday night.
Fans can watch the show via the A-League and Westfield W-League Facebook pages, My Football YouTube channel, and the My Football Live App on Wednesday evening, 23 June at 7:30pm (AEST).
The Dolan Warren awards will also be available to watch on Kayo Sports at the conclusion of the live show.
Read on to see the coaches in contention for Coach of the Year in 2020/21!
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Warren Moon – Brisbane Roar
Warren Moon signed on as head coach of the Roar ahead of the 2020/21 campaign after serving as the club’s Academy General Manager, and the new Roar boss wasted no time making his objective very clear to help local Queensland talent thrive.
Brisbane won 11, drew seven and lost nine of the 27 games Moon oversaw this season, scoring 37 goals and conceding 28.
The likes of Rahmat Akbari, Jesse Daley and Alex Parsons are all young Queenslanders thriving under Moon’s guidance at the Roar. The Brisbane boss managed to blend the youth in his side with the likes of Jay O’Shea, Macaulay Gillesphey, Scott Neville and Jamie Young who provided experience to a Roar side which finished in fourth spot on the A-League table.
The future looks bright for the Roar under Moon who is helping to develop a competitive side with a local flavour capable of taking it to the best teams in the league.
Patrick Kisnorbo – Melbourne City
Taking over from departing boss Erick Mombaerts was no easy task for new Melbourne City boss Patrick Kisnorbo this season. But after the Frenchman led City to their best ever points tally and the A-League Grand Final in 2019/20 Kisnorbo managed to raise the stakes, eclipsing the club’s previous best points tally to clinch the Premiers Plate and seal a Grand Final berth for the second season running.
Kisnorbo’s stone-cold demeanour matches the ruthless approach his City side takes approaching every game. Jamie Maclaren led a potent forward line featuring Andrew Nabbout and Craig Noone for large portions of the season as City broke the club’s record winning streak by notching six consecutive victories in 2020/21.
A club-first piece of silverware was clinched when Kisnorbo’s side lifted the Premiers Plate, and the Grand Final favourites are every chance of notching the double by the end of the week. It’s been a memorable season capped off by silverware for Kisnorbo in his first shot as an A-League head coach.
Alen Stajcic – Central Coast Mariners
Alen Stajcic brought the belief back to Gosford as he guided Central Coast Mariners back to the Finals Series after three consecutive seasons finishing on the bottom of the A-League table.
The Mariners burst out of the blocks to become unlikely favourites for the Premiers Plate before the might of Melbourne City took the league by storm. A third-place finish was to follow for Stajcic’s side who displayed guts and determination as they shook off the hardships of seasons gone by to dare the faithful fans to dream.
Under Stajcic, Matt Simon put on one of his best A-League campaigns to date, the returning Oliver Bozanic starred in midfield and the likes of Alou Kuol and Daniel De Silva provided the X-factor to an exciting team which produced the surprise story of the campaign.
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