Declan Kidney has been awarded the Philips Sports Manager of the Year award for a second time after leading Munster to their second Heineken Cup title in Cardiff back in May.
The Ireland manager signed off a wonderful tenure as Munster coach as his side beat Toulouse 16-13 on a never to be forgotten day at the Millennium Stadium.
It was Kidney's second success in three years after Munster won their inaugural title back in 2006.
Kidney was named Manager of the Year for that success and now joins former Republic of Ireland boss Brian Kerr with two awards. Jack Charlton leads the list with four awards.
Kidney picked up three monthly awards during the year and saw off strong claims from Kilkenny three-in-a-row manager Brian Cody and Olympic boxing coach Billy Walsh.
Aidan O'Brien's 23 Group One winners had him as many people's favourite for the award, while Mickey Harte's work with All-Ireland winners Tyrone and Pat Fenlon's double-winning season with Bohemians also saw them in contention after picking up monthly awards.
MONTHLY WINNERS
December 2007:Damien Richardson (Cork City)
January 2008:Declan Kidney (Munster)
February:Mickey Whelan (St Vincent's)
March:Jimmy Heverin (Portumna)
April:Declan Kidney
May:Declan Kidney
June:Aidan O'Brien
July:Conor Counihan (Cork)
August:Billy Walsh (Irish Olympic Boxing)
September:Brian Cody (Kilkenny)/Mickey Harte (Tyrone)
October:Pat Fenlon (Bohemians)
November:Peter Taylor (coach to Katie Taylor)
