Koeman scoops Manager of the Month award

It’s Koeman’s second Manager of the Month award in his first year of management in England, having won it back in September for another faultless month.

Saints won all three of their Premier League games as they beat Arsenal, Manchester United and Newcastle United during the opening month of 2015.

The year began with victory against Arsenal at St Mary’s thanks to goals from Sadio Mané and Dušan Tadić, before a first league win at Old Trafford since 1988 followed thanks to another Tadić strike.

A week later Saints won 2-1 at Newcastle United courtesy of two goals from Eljero Elia as Koeman’s side maintained their push for European football next season.

The Saints boss saw off competition from Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino, Liverpool’s Brendan Rodgers and Stoke manager Mark Hughes to win the award.

Speaking to Southampton’s official YouTube channel after landing the prize, Koeman said: “It’s a great feeling. It’s not easy to win it as a Southampton manager one time, and for sure it’s more difficult to win it twice.

“That’s happened and it’s a great feeling and it’s a big compliment for the whole team. 

“We are working hard to prepare the players for every game, that’s the people on the technical staff.

“It’s all the people around the technical staff too, the medical staff. We are doing that together. It’s a reward for the manager but it’s for the rest of the team as well.”

Defender José Fonte missed out on the January Player of the Month Award, with Harry Kane of Tottenham being named the winner.