Kimiyasu Kudo, who steered the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks to their second straight Japan Series title in his first year as manager, was named the winner of the Matsutaro Shoriki Award on Thursday.

Kudo, 52, won the award by a unanimous vote and becomes only the third recipient as both a player and a manager after Sadaharu Oh and Koji Akiyama. Kudo won it as a pitcher with the Seibu Lions in 1987.

"It is a prestigious award so I am delighted to receive it," said Kudo. "I want to thank the players because this is down to their hard work."