Michael Bradley named the Coach of the Season

Coaches around the PRO14 have voted for Zebre’s Michael Bradley to be named the Coach of the Season for 2020/21.

The award is one of the most prestigious on offer in the PRO14 as it is only the head coaches of each club who are allowed to vote. Although Bradley’s team have not been challenging for top honours in the Championship, the message from his peers is that his efforts to steer Zebre to four wins in very challenging circumstances were worthy of recognition.

In a shortened season, Zebre have won 25% of their PRO14 fixtures in this campaign as they seek to strengthen their young squad. In a season where recruitment in rugby has been hampered due to the pandemic, Bradley often had to call upon Italian permit players and younger academy talent due to Zebre’s double-figure contribution to Italy’s senior squad throughout the Autumn and Six Nations periods.

Speaking about winning the Loch Lomond Whiskies Coach the Season Award, Bradley said: “Obviously, I’m delighted to receive this award. I do so on behalf of all the technical team in Zebre Rugby Club, in particular my two fellow-coaches Andrea Moretti and Fabio Roselli. We see this award as recognition for the work that has been done in challenging the skill and composure level of our players as we strive to play an attractive and exiting brand of rugby.

“This award gives a great encouragement to everybody in Zebre Rugby Club to keep working hard to achieve our goals. The opportunity to continue to work in Zebre Rugby Club has been given to me by Andrea Dalledonne, our CEO, who has a great belief in our technical direction.”

David Jordan, PRO14 Rugby, Tournament Director, said: “It is very heartening to hear that our coaches have voted for Michael Bradley as the Loch Lomond Whiskies Coach of the Season. Our clubs in Italy have experienced some of the worst conditions that the pandemic has thrown at us, but despite this Zebre have played with such ambition which is a credit Michael, the players, his coaching team and the executive at the club.”