GIVEN his managerial heroics with Crystal Palace this season, the theme from The Great Escape might seem like an appropriate song with which to serenade Newport-born Tony Pulis.

But Irish band the Corrigan Brothers have gone one better and written a song about the 56-year-old Palace boss, whose efforts in south London since taking over last autumn have earned him the Premier League Manager of the Year award from the League Managers' Association.

LISTEN TO THE SONG HERE:

listen to ‘newsshopper talk about Tony Pulis song’ on Audioboom

The band, which has made a name for itself across the globe with its song There's No One As Irish As Barack Obama, has now immortalised Pulis in words and music, inspired by their' support for him as a candidate for the award.

"What Tony Pulis has done this season to keep Palace up has been amazing," said guitarist Brian Corrigan.

"He had an impossible task when he joined in November and delivered five Premier League wins in a row on April 19th (to secure the club's Premier League status).

"There is no better managerial performance in world football this year."

Originally from Pill, Pulis played for Newport YMCA as a youngster before beginning a professional on-field career spanning 17 years and more than 300 games for Bristol Rovers (over two spells), Newport County, Bournemouth (also over two spells), and Gillingham.

His managerial career began at Bournemouth - he took over from future Tottenham Hotspur boss Harry Redknapp in 1992 - followed by stints at Gillingham, Bristol City and Portsmouth, before he landed the manager's role at then League One Stoke City in 2002/03.

His first achievement there was avoiding relegation to League Two, before he was sacked amid disagreements with the club's then owners. He then helped steady the ship at Plymouth Argyle, then in the Championship, before returning to Stoke and guiding them into the top flight in 2007/08.

The club established itself in the Premier League under Pulis' guiding hand, achieving notable mid-table finishes and reaching the FA Cup Final in 2010/11.

He left Stoke last May, taking over at Palace last November with the Selhurst Park club rock bottom with just four points out of its first 11 league games.

Under Pulis however, Palace have been a team transformed, finishing 11th, with a five-match winning streak into the middle of April securing Premier League status for another season.

The club has also bloodied the noses of some big name clubs on the way, notably Chelsea, with a 1-0 win, and title-chasing Liverpool, coming back from 0-3 down for a 3-3 draw.

The Corrigan Brothers' song about Obama has chalked up more than three million hits on YouTube, and while Tony Pulis might not have the global appeal and reach of the US President, the group's song in his honour, to be released on May 16, is probably short odds to become a fans' favourite at Selhurst Park.

Pulis is the Manager of the Year - by The Corrigan Brothers

Toor a loo toor a loo toor a loo toor a lear

Pulis is the manager of the year

Pelligrini's done well

and so has Mourinho

but the Palace man

has been the real Hero

when he took over

the task looked too big

but now they're the talk

of the Premier League

 

Toor a loo toor a loo toor a loo toor a lear

Pulis is the manager of the year

The Eagles are soaring

Tony made it so

playing with passion

won five in a row

now in Selhurst Park

there's no longer fear

and that is why he's

manager of the year

 

Toor a loo toor a loo toor a loo toor a lear

Pulis is the manager of the year

He's managed for years

loves the big occasion

and he's never managed

a team's relegation

so here's to Tony

let's give him a cheer

the Premier League's

Manager of the Year

 

Toor a loo toor a loo toor a loo toor a lear

Pulis is the manager of the year

Toor a loo toor a loo toor a loo toor a lear

Pulis is the manager of the year

Toor a loo toor a loo toor a loo toor a lear

Pulis is the manager of the year