Cast Your Vote for Comeback of the Year! eScored’s 2024 Alternative Awards

Who has etched their name in the annals of football history with the Comeback of the Year? Welcome to eScored’s Alternative Awards for 2024, where your voice holds the power to shape the narrative.

This issue shines a light on the extraordinary, the unforgettable—a year bursting with moments that demand recognition. Our astute panel of experts have rallied together to cast votes in select extra categories exclusively for our online audience, free of constraints regarding nominations or quantities.

Today, we celebrate those phenomenal comebacks… so who captures your vote?

Ivory Coast: nominated by Chris Flanagan, senior staff writer (@CFlanaganFFT)

Bayer Leverkusen seemed relentless in their pursuit of this accolade, fighting tooth and nail for their unbeaten streak through a string of last-gasp equalisers in the dying minutes of matches. However, the rightful contender for this award has to be Ivory Coast, who delivered nothing short of an astonishing comeback in a major tournament that defies belief.

After suffering a humiliating 4-0 defeat to Equatorial Guinea, the hosts were on the precipice, seemingly out of the competition with just three points from three matches. But fate shifted dramatically when Ghana squandered a 2-0 lead to Mozambique, inadvertently granting Ivory Coast passage as the fourth-best third-placed nation. Following a coaching change from Jean-Louis Gasset to Emerse Fae, they rallied, overcoming a goal deficit in the last 16, defying all odds with ten men in the quarter-finals, and once again climbing back from a goal down to best Nigeria in the final. Pure madness.

Veteran strikers: nominated by Ryan Dabbs, senior writer online (@ryandabbs_)

The resurgence of seasoned strikers like Chris Wood, Danny Welbeck, and Jamie Vardy has been nothing short of remarkable this season. Many have been astonished by Chris Wood’s ability to not only find form but to reach double figures before Christmas. While undeniably a competent Premier League striker, he has showcased an impressive return to form in the 2024/25 season. Welbeck is even keeping the talented Evan Ferguson on the sidelines at Brighton, while Vardy, true to form, remains an indomitable presence on the pitch.

Gareth Southgate: nominated by Matthew Ketchell, deputy editor (@Ketchell)

Moments away from what could have been a public reckoning akin to the one Graham Taylor faced, Southgate was saved by none other than Jude Bellingham—a moment that encapsulated the heart of football itself. The Three Lions executed a penalty shootout with unbelievable finesse (yes, it feels extraordinary to type those words), then followed up with arguably their best performance of the tournament to clinch a Euro 2024 final spot that seemed like a distant dream to anyone who experienced the Denmark debacle. Though they ultimately fell short against Spain, Southgate departed with his dignity intact—at least until he inevitably takes over at West Ham.

Lennie Lawrence: nominated by James Andrew, editor (@JamesAndrew_)

At the venerable age of 77, Lawrence made a remarkable return to management after nearly two decades away from the dugout, taking the reins at National League’s Hartlepool United. Despite his absence from the front line, he has remained deeply embedded in the footballing world, serving as Director of Football and assistant at an impressive nine clubs since last being called ‘Gaffer’.

Lennie Lawrence: nominated by Ed McCambridge (again), staff writer (@edmccambridge)

When the experienced Lennie Lawrence resurfaced as Hartlepool’s manager last November, it marked his first managerial role since being shown the door by Cardiff all the way back in 2005. To emphasize his football acumen, it’s worth noting Lawrence went to school with the formidable Roy Hodgson—a testament to his longstanding involvement in the game!

Bournemouth: nominated by Mark White, online content editor (@markwhlte)

Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth side has proven to be the embodiment of determination this season. Notably, they pulled off a breathtaking comeback, clawing back from two goals down against Everton, coming alive in the last moments of the match. Yet, it’s their surreal return from a 3-0 halftime deficit against Luton Town that deserves the spotlight here. In a football landscape rife with overly complicated tactics and the occasional farce, Iraola’s approach of simply outscoring opponents is an exhilarating reminder of football’s core spirit.

As the exhilarating climax of the 2023/24 Women’s Super League season approached, it seemed Manchester City had galloped into a strong lead, poised to lift the title with a seemingly insurmountable goal difference advantage. However, the narrative turned dramatically after their unexpected loss to Liverpool, with former coach Emma Hayes proclaiming, “the title race is over.”

But hushed the naysayers! Chelsea unleashed a stunning 8-0 victory over Bristol City, and with City losing to Arsenal, they entered the final day of the season neck-and-neck in points, with Chelsea edging ahead on goal difference by +2.

All eyes turned to Old Trafford, where Chelsea faced Manchester United while City squared off against Aston Villa. But it was Mayra Ramirez who instigated the festivities for Chelsea, delivering an electrifying 6-0 demolition that sealed the title—and what a magnificent send-off it was for Hayes, whose leadership had heralded one of the greatest comebacks in Women’s Super League history.

Jamie Vardy: nominated by Adam Monk, presenter/producer (@_adammonk)

Though he may have slipped from the Premier League spotlight momentarily, Jamie Vardy has emphatically reasserted himself upon returning to the top flight. Approaching an illustrious milestone of 150 Premier League goals—over 100 scored after turning 30—Vardy continues to defy age at 37, proving to be one of the league’s elite strikers and exemplifying the adage that they simply don’t make players like him anymore.

Yarm and Eaglescliffe: nominated by Ben Marsden, writer (@BenMarsden03)

Although not a household name, Yarm and Eaglescliffe captured headlines with a comeback that would make any team envious. Facing a daunting 5-2 deficit against Sunderland West End in the Northern League Division Two, it seemed all was lost. Yet, in a stunning twist, they notched a goal in the 92nd minute, again in the 93rd, and even once more in the 94th. Just when it seemed 5-5 was the ultimate triumph, engineer Tom Atkinson clinched victory with his fourth goal of the match in the 96th minute, sealing one of the most jaw-dropping comebacks imaginable.