MANAGER OF THE SEASON
MASSIMILIANO ALLEGRI (JUVENTUS)
A Herculean managerial feat was required to see off Napoli – and Allegri duly obliged.
It is churlish in the extreme to discount his latest success, even though it was the club’s seventh-successive title. The Neapolitans’ 91 points is the highest-ever tally in Italy for runners-up.
To edge them, Allegri proved a master of adaption throughout 2017/18. A more-expansive game plan saw Juve score 86 times – the most in his four successful seasons in charge.
Yet they still boasted the competition’s meanest defence, with just 24 goals conceded.
All this came amid 37 changed line-ups from 38 games as injuries and age undermined his squad.
Napoli tactician Maurizio Sarri garnered more praise, but his side came undone as he failed to adapt. Fluid Allegri taught the pretender to his throne some harsh lessons.
WORTHY MENTIONS
Maurizio Sarri (Napoli)
For so long, it appeared like the innovative, chain-smoking Sarri would claim this honour. The 59-year-old produced such intoxicating football that Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola led the praises.
Yet a critical failure to rotate would both deny him January transfer targets and see his long-term leaders – they were in first for 21 out of 38 rounds – collapse within sight of the finishing post.
Gian Piero Gasperini (Atalanta)
Recovered from a stuttering start to earn a second-successive Europa League-campaign.
There would be no repeat of 2016/17’s staggering fourth, but seventh for a team of Atalanta’s resources is still some achievement.
Leonardo Semplici (SPAL)
The man who led SPAL to the top flight, for the first time in 49 years, ensured that the small Ferrara-based club stayed there.
A 3-1 final-day victory against Sampdoria condemned Crotone to the drop.
