Chris Davies led Birmingham City to the League One title in record-breaking fashion in his first season in management
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Birmingham City chairman Tom Wagner and manager Chris Davies
Birmingham City chairman Tom Wagner and manager Chris Davies
Tom Wagner hopes Chris Davies can recreate the ‘philosophy, culture and energy’ Pep Guardiola has developed at Manchester City.
Birmingham City stormed to the League One title with an EFL-record 111 points in Davies’ first season in management.
The 40-year-old stepped out of the shadows of Brendan Rodgers and Ange Postecoglou to make a promising start to his managerial career after being handed the reins at Blues by Wagner last summer.
Blues hope Davies is the man to lead them back into the Premier League and, once that ambition is achieved, even loftier targets will be on the agenda.
Wagner wants to take Blues to heights they have never experienced before and rub shoulders with the elite, such as Guardiola’s all-conquering City side, and the American sees similarities between Davies and the three-time Champions League-winning boss.
“The philosophy, culture and energy that Pep [Guardiola] has brought to Man City is something we think is fantastic,” Wagner told the I.
“Certainly our manager Chris [Davies] is someone we think has a similar vigour. We believe he has the right mentality to incorporate a playing style that will last us a long period of time.”
Davies transformed Blues’ playing style after ripping up the squad he inherited following the club’s relegation from the Championship.
He signed 17 new players and presided over a season which saw Blues defeated just six times across all competitions.
Wagner praised Davies, who was named EFL League One Manager of the Year, at Blues' end-of-season awards bash before issuing a firm hands off warning.
“Chris Davies. Appropriately named Manager of the Season. You’re not going anywhere," said Wagner.
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