Mid-season awards: who has been the coach of the season so far?

When it gets to the halfway mark of a competition, most fans will start comparing the performances of players, both stars and unknowns.

But coaches have big impacts on their sides, too, and as we look ahead to the second half of the Hyundai A-League season it is worth taking stock of the coaching performances so far this campaign.

In fact, we want you to tell us who you think has been the best coach of the Hyundai A-League 2018/19 Season so far.

Take a look at our shortlist and vote below!

MID-SEASON AWARDS: Who has been the player of the season so far?
WATCH FOR FREE:
 How to watch the Hyundai A-League LIVE and FREE
SIGNING NEWS: 
Hyundai A-League debut on Wednesday, Woolies on Thursday: the surprise call that earned Mariners starlet promotion
SIGNING NEWS: ‘Phenomenal athlete’ Jackson has huge future at Newcastle, says Ernie Merrick
SIGNING NEWS: Golec thrilled to join Hyundai A-League’s ‘most exciting team’ after sealing Phoenix switch

Tony Popovic (Perth Glory)

If there is one thing that can be said about Tony Popovic’s work at Perth Glory it is ‘unsurprising’.

Since linking up with the Western Australian outfit in the off-season, Glory have been the most solid side in the Hyundai A-League.

They have a miserly defence that has only conceded an equal league-best 16 goals and have only lost once in 16 matches so far.

They are also yet to lose on the road, a vital weakness of past Glory sides, and will head into the second half of the season confident of claiming the Premiership.

In effect, Popovic has done to Perth what he did all those years ago with Western Sydney Wanderers, a scenario that many tipped leading into the Hyundai A-League 2018/19 season.

Tony Popovic; Andy Keogh

Mark Rudan (Wellington Phoenix)

If Popovic’s transformation of the Glory may have been anticipated by some, few would’ve predicted an evolution of similar magnitude to take place when Mark Rudan was announced as Wellington Phoenix coach.

Taking over a club that had languished in the bottom half of the table for much of the past decade was no easy task, even more so for a coach with no previous experience managing in the Hyundai A-League.

What has transpired since the former Sydney United 58 coach took over has been nothing short of remarkable.

The Nix proudly sit inside the top six, having claimed seven wins and only four losses.

They have also been resilient on the road, only losing once away from Westpac Stadium including two thrilling draws against reigning Champions Melbourne Victory.

https://players.brightcove.net/5472387882001/default_default/index.html?videoId=5991781227001

Kevin Muscat (Melbourne Victory)

One of the Hyundai A-League’s grizzled veterans has Melbourne Victory poised for a yet another title challenge.

The 45-year-old led Victory to the Championship last season, and it is his inspired pre-season recruitment which has them firmly in the mix once more.

New free to air banner

Muscat has dealt with the key losses of Besart Berisha and Leroy George, replacing them with Swedish FIFA World Cup striker Ola Toivonen and Japanese legend Keisuke Honda.

That duo has lit up the league, and even in Honda’s recent absence and Toivonen’s acclimatisation period at the start of the campaign, the Victory boss has managed to get more out of his regulars like James Troisi and Terry Antonis.

The result sees Victory sitting pretty in second place, hot on the tails of the runaway Perth Glory.

muscat-honda

Warren Joyce (Melbourne City)

Melbourne City boss Warren Joyce has taken an unconventional route to the Hyundai A-League top four having kept star striker Bruno Fornaroli on the sidelines.

But it is a sacrifice which has paid dividends in many areas of the pitch that Joyce’s side excel, especially at the back where City boast the league’s equal best defensive record.

In doing so, Joyce has constructed one of the Hyundai A-League’s toughest nuts to crack, utilising a number of players out of their regular positions but still managing to get the best out of his key players.

Ritchie De Laet is a prime example. The City fullback is the club’s leading goalscorer with six and has netted four since his surprising deployment up front, while Lachlan Wales and Riley McGree have shouldered more advanced attacking roles admirably.

If Joyce can keep City solid at the core and add attacking ruthlessness to their defensive steel, he could take them far.

Warren Joyce says Melbourne City are relishing the chance to face Sydney FC in the FFA Cup.

Steve Corica (Sydney FC)

Taking over from Graham Arnold and the records broken under his leadership was always going to be difficult but Steve Corica has Sydney FC poised for a run into the Hyundai A-League finals.

The Sky Blues sit third, a solitary point behind rivals Victory.

The strong off-season recruitment of Adam Le Fondre and Siem de Jong has been a roaring success, particularly for the English marksman who has scored 11 goals in 16 matches.

Moreover, signing of Iranian striker Reza Ghoochannejhad on loan during January looks a shrewd piece of business by the former Sky Blues assistant as he attempts to build upon a strong start to his managerial career.

https://players.brightcove.net/5472387882001/default_default/index.html?videoId=5827554589001

Marco Kurz (Adelaide United)

Adelaide United seem to be flying under the radar, sitting in fifth spot after a strong start to the season.

Marco Kurz brought Craig Goodwin and Ben Halloran back to Australian shores in the off-season while also adding Danish forward Ken Ilso.

That resulted in their second FFA Cup triumph when they beat Sydney 2-1 in October and despite going through a three-match winless run in December, United seem to be going in the right direction once again.

After implementing his style and authority last season, Kurz has the Reds well-positioned for a tilt at the title this time round.

https://players.brightcove.net/5472387882001/default_default/index.html?videoId=5983116356001