Square Mile Sport Awards - Vote Now!
There are many different types of sporting leaders. Influential players on the pitch; inspirational managers or coaches; or those behind the scenes who create a platform from which a sport or its stars can thrive. Below are the 6 sports leaders that have been nominated for this award…
The winner was chosen from the 6 nominees below...
Dave Brailsford, Cycling
It wasn't so much that the British cycling team dominated the velodrome at Beijing. More that they blew everybody else off the track. The man widely acknowledged to be the catalyst to this the astonishing haul of 14 medals including 8 gold, more than 3 times the tally of the next ranked country, was GB Cycling performance director Dave Brailsford. A man so dedicated to his chosen sport that he got up at 6am every morning during the Olympics to ride a two-hour round trip to the Great Wall of China, Brailsford's single-minded approach was undoubtedly the driving force behind the team's success – the best ever medal return from a single sport in British Olympic history.
Simon Clegg, Olympics
It's easy to get carried away with the record breaking exploits of the British Olympic team at the Beijing Olympics. But in truth, it was the creation of the feel-good factor throughout the entire Team GB camp that turned potential silvers into golds and propelled outside medal hopes onto the podium. As Chef de Mission for Team GB, Clegg was widely responsible for the ensuring that the impetus that began in the swimming pool and at the Velodrome was maintained throughout the Olympic fortnight. 47 medals, including 19 golds, and fourth position in the medal table suggest he did a more than adequate job.
Rio Ferdinand, Football
Gone are the days of the absent-minded Rio Ferdinand who forgets to take drugs tests and is prone to defensive lapses of concentration that hand opposition strikers goals on a plate. The modern-day Ferdinand is a leader of men, his consistent level of excellence one of the fundamental catalysts for Manchester United's trophy double of Premier League and Champions League in the same season. Emerging from the substantial shadow of the injured Gary Neville – the man who bleeds United red, Ferdinand's captaincy over the course of the season was impossible to fault. If he hadn't been injured for England's crucial qualification loss against Croatia we may have even made it to Euro 2008 too.
Warren Gatland and Shaun Edwards, Rugby Union
The chalk and cheese pairing of Warren Gatland and Shaun Edwards proved to be a rugby masterstroke in 2008 guiding Wales to a Grand Slam title and victory in the Six Nations. Driven on by the thoughtful Kiwi Gatland and the tough love motivational skills of Edwards, the Welsh played some dazzling attacking rugby that set alight the tournament, putting the likes of England and France to the sword in spectacular fashion. Nor was Edwards finished there. Upon returning to his day job as head coach of London Wasps, he orchestrated a sixth top-flight title for the club as they held off a strong Leicester side to win the Guinness Premiership Final.
Stephen Park, Sailing
The British sailing team arrived on the shores of China with reports of a lack of wind and suggestions of the worst located regatta venue in Olympic history ringing in their ears. With such testing conditions levelling the field, there were fears that the team wouldn't live up to its pre-Games favourites billing. We needn't have worried with the calm Scot Stephen Park at the helm. Affectionately known as 'Sparky', the unruffled performance director navigated the team through the countless cancellations of races and practically impossible sailing conditions to deliver a medal tally of 6 including 4 golds, ending the Beijing Games as the world's leading sailing nation.
David Tanner, Rowing
No Redgrave, no Pinsent. The British rowers headed to Beijing with few star names and massive shoes to fill following the gold-medal winning exploits of their predecessors. Fortunately performance director David Tanner had prepared his crews with immaculate precision. If there was a more exciting finish to a race than the men's coxless fours comeback in the last 200m to overhaul Australia from three-quarters of a length down and claim gold, you'd struggle to think of it. With more Olympic finalists than any British rowing team has managed in previous Games, the table-topping medal haul of 6 with 2 golds was testament to Tanner's ability to bring the best out of his cohorts.