LONDON – Swansea’s success has been recognised by Premier League managers who have voted Michael Laudrup the coach of the year and Michu the signing of the season.Laudrup has guided Swansea into the top half of the Premier League and has won the Carling Cup, the first major trophy of City’s 100-year history while Michu, who scored the second goal in their 5-0 final win over Bradford, has struck 19 times since his £2 million arrival from Rayo Vallecano.And almost half of his peers voted for Laudrup in a survey organised by the League Managers Association, with 46% naming him as the outstanding coach of the year.Laudrup, who has earned plaudits for his progressive style of play, recently signed a contract extension to keep him at Swansea until 2015 but, when the season started, they were among the relegation favourites.Michu defeated Robin van Persie to be named the managers’ pick as the signing of the season, securing 47% of votes to the Manchester United forward’s 35%. Santi Cazorla, Dimitar Berbatov and Steven Nzonzi were tied for third place.Liverpool’s teenage winger Raheem Sterling was the runaway winner in the poll to find the best young player in the division, securing 52% of votes. Southampton’s Adam Lallana was second with Chelsea’s Brazil international Oscar third.
