Jupp Heynckes named Coach of the Year

A great honour for a great coach. Jupp Heynckes has been named Coach of the Year 2018. In the traditional survey among sport journalists, held by the respected weekly journal kicker, the 73-year-old football coach garnered 91 votes, finishing ahead of Schalke coach Domenico Tedesco (89 votes) and his successor on the Bayern bench Niko Kovac (77 votes). This is the fourth time Heynckes has been named the best of his trade, with previous triumphs in 1981, 1986 and 2013.

"It's particularly nice to see an older coach win the vote in times marked by a certain obsession with youth," Uli Hoeneß commented on the poll. "Jupp Heynckes has absolutely earned this award because it is so unusual for a man to be introduced to such a tricky situation, completely turn it around from day one and see it through to the end," continued the Bayern president.

Heynckes came out of retirement to coach the German record champions last October and led them to a German Championship victory with aplomb. Despite being five points short of the top spot when he took on the job, by the end of the season Bayern claimed the title 21 points in the clear.