Manning’s appointment as head coach in November 2023 was not universally welcomed by fans, following the controversial sacking of Nigel Pearson.
At 39, Manning is a young coach who has worked his way up the ranks from West Ham’s academy, to coaching in Belgium, managing League Two MK Dons and was at then League One Oxford, but he was unproven at Championship level and cut from a different cloth than Pearson.
“Let’s turn the clock back: Nigel Pearson was a popular figure and Liam probably wasn’t everybody’s choice when he got the job,” said former Bristol City midfielder and BBC Radio Bristol analyst Gary Owers.
“To get into this position where the crowd really have jumped on board and been very, very supportive, he’s had to earn that and the only reason he’s done that is by winning football matches and improving the position.
“He’s a very intelligent, well-educated coach, he’s put the hard yards in to earn his position and clearly he’s worked his way through the divisions.
“There was definitely a period early in his Bristol City career where he was adjusting to the level, but I think he’s got that all worked out.”
There was no bigger showing of how much supporters had taken the head coach as one of their own than following the death of Manning’s baby son, Theo, in October, when the fanbase unified behind him.
Manning later said he initially considered quitting, external his role in the wake of his son’s death before deciding he had to get back to work.
“I think that galvanised the whole club,” Owers added. “We’ve seen the outpouring of emotion and support that he got from the supporters, and the team took that on to the pitch as well.”
