With the FA Cup final just one day away, one corner of Staffordshire is undoubtedly working itself into an excited frenzy. Stoke City have the opportunity to win their first piece of major silverware in nearly 40 years, but regardless of whether they win or not, manager Tony Pulis must start to receive recognition for his achievements with the club.

The 53-year-old, who began life in management with Bournemouth in 1992, is set for the biggest day of his managerial career so far. However, establishing Stoke City as a stable Premier League club surely ranks as his biggest achievement to date.

Stabilising a club as a Premier League side is no mean feat. Of the 30 sides promoted to the Premier League between 1998/99 and 2008/09, 18 have been relegated within three seasons of appearing in the top flight.

Of the 12 clubs who managed to achieve three consecutive seasons of Premier League survival following promotion, Pulis’ side are the only one to achieve an improved Premier League final position in each of those three seasons (providing they finish in their current position, 8th, at the end of this season). Indeed, if Stoke do finish 8th, Pulis will be the only manager in the Premier League to have led his side to three consecutive seasons of Premier League improvement.

Although Pulis and his side have received heavy criticism for their style of play, he must be applauded for accepting his side’s inadequacies and playing to its strengths. Pulis is fully aware that attempting to play attacking football, or employing a short passing-based approach, can be fatal to a side’s chances of Premier League survival. Tony Mowbray’s 2008/09 side, much like Ian Holloway’s current Blackpool side, were lauded for their attractive style of football. However they finished 20th and were subsequently relegated, and Holloway’s side are fighting to prevent a return to the Championship.

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A high turnover of players (Stoke City have signed 28 players since the summer of 2008) would suggest frivolous behaviour on Pulis’ behalf, but this fails to take account of the Welshman’s shrewd and effective work in the transfer market.

Although he has since left the club, James Beattie’s arrival in the January 2009 transfer window galvanised the club’s survival bid; he managed 7 goals in 16 appearances that season and effectively secured the club’s Premier League status. The likes of Danny Higginbotham, Dean Whitehead and Robert Huth have all brought a wealth of Premier League experience to the Britannia Stadium. German Huth has excelled at both ends of the pitch, having scored nine goals in all competitions this season.

Pulis has also managed to bring the best out of inconsistent and previously undisciplined players – Matthew Etherington won three of the club’s end-of-season awards in 2010, and fellow winger Jermaine Pennant looks settled for the first time in his troubled career.

The achievements of Pulis have not gone unnoticed within the club. Speaking to Teamtalk, club chairman Peter Coates said: “The twin reason for success is having the resources and having the management to do it. And we continue to do remarkably well because of the fantastic job Tony Pulis has done. I think he is the best manager we have ever had.”

With the end of the season in sight, the League Managers Association will be preparing to name its Manager of the Year. Whilst more illustrious candidates may garner greater support, few are more deserving than the unfashionable man who manages the unfashionable club.

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