The shortlists for the Championship, League One, and League Two Manager of the Season awards have been revealed, with the individual winners to be announced at the 2026 EFL Awards on Sunday 19th April.
EFL expert Gab Sutton runs through the contenders in each division and gives his verdict on who should take the coveted honours.
In this article, we’ll cover:
Championship Manager of the Season
Frank Lampard has done a fantastic job at Coventry City, inheriting a team that had been languishing as low as 17th when he took charge midway through the previous season.
With a top six-capable best XI but a squad lacking depth on a midtable budget, Lampard got the Sky Blues into the play-offs in his first season and, after an unfortunate defeat to Sunderland, are on course to secure top spot in his second campaign – with promotion a formality.
Elsewhere, Millwall’s challenge, since James Berylson inherited ownership from his father, has been to retain the club’s core battling principles, whilst finding ways to develop players and increase the value of the squad.
Alex Neil has done just that at the Den – nurturing prospects like Tristan Crama and Femi Azeez – and is on course to deliver, at the very least, their first Play-Off finish since 2002.
The Championship’s biggest underdog story, meanwhile, has come at Hull City, who had a transfer ban in the summer that saw them priced among the relegation favourites, and yet Sergej Jakirovic is set to manage them to a top six finish.
The Tigers haven’t controlled many games this season, and they’ve had plenty of luck along the way, but with the likes of Liam Millar, Joe Gelhardt and Oli McBurnie, they carry a real threat when they come forward.
The most creative team in the Championship, on the other hand, has been Middlesbrough, which speaks volumes for the in-possession patterns of play Kim Hellberg has stamped on this time, marrying the flair they had under Carrick with the solidity they had under Edwards.
Unfortunately, it looks like a lack of ruthlessness in front of goal – especially at home to the weaker sides – will cost them automatic promotion, but their level of performance gives them some positive foundations moving into the Play-Offs, if they can make them count.
Gab Sutton’s Pick: Frank Lampard (Coventry City)
League One Manager of the Season
Lincoln City have been League One’s overwhelming success story this season, with Michael Skubala’s underdogs wrapping up promotion with as many as five games to spare!
The Imps had only finished 11th last season, having been in rebuild following four key departures from a strong Play-Off challenge the year before, and they’ve seen the benefit of sticking with their tactically astute head coach during a bad winter run that year.
The players they invested in that year – particularly Tom Hamer, Conor McGrandles and Rob Street – have all paid them back in spades.
Skubala will inevitably attract interest for his achievements, but Lincoln are good for him as much as he’s good for Lincoln: he’s got an excellent recruitment team in place at Sincil Bank, and coaches in Chris Cohen and Tom Shaw who complement his leadership style superbly.
Cardiff City’s achievement of a top two finish might feel lesser by comparison, as a club that had been playing in the Championship last season, but Brian Barry-Murphy’s work is not to be sniffed at.
The Bluebirds didn’t make a single outfield signing prior to August, off the back of relegation, which highlights the Irishman’s willingness to nurture homegrown prospects like Dylan Lawlor and Ronan Kpakio.
BBM has brought fantastic developmental qualities and stylistic ideals to the Welsh capital, where City have played some delightful football and look more than ready for their Championship return.
Hoping to join them are Bradford City, where Graham Alexander is on course to deliver a top-six finish in Bradford City’s first season back up at this level when, despite the club’s estimable stature, much of the fanbase would have been content with consolidation.
The West Yorkshire outfit have recruited superbly under Alexander, and play an intense, high-energy game.
Perhaps the greatest underdog story of the lot, though, comes at Stevenage, whom Alex Revell has in the play-offs, four points clear of seventh, with four games remaining.
The Boro have a bottom-end budget for the level, but they’ve planned sensibly for this season, enhancing the ammunition for Jamie Reid to recapture his 2023-24 form with a full pre-season, while retaining their uncompromising defensive foundations.
Gab Sutton’s Pick: Michael Skubala (Lincoln City)
League Two Manager of the Season
Andy Woodman was the only person at Bromley who wasn’t completely satisfied with last season’s top-half finish, in their first year as a Football League club.
Always with a hunger to strive for better, Woodman has led the Ravens to the top of League Two this season; they only need one more win to secure promotion, and two to land the title.
Success at Hayes Lane has been built on a fantastic culture, a humble group, outstanding out-of-possession organisation, and a team that knows how they can hurt the opposition: from set pieces.
Mitch Pinnock’s pinpoint deliveries, Omar Sowunmi’s towering aerial presence and Michael Cheek’s poaching proficiency has been key for Bromley, as Woodman oversees one of the best underdog stories in the EFL.
That’s been less the case for Paul Warne, and his £8m budget at MK Dons, but that can bring it’s own challenges and the former Rotherham boss has led his team on course for promotion back to League One in his first full season in charge.
Elsewhere, Neil Harris has established a Cambridge United side that are incredibly consistent and reliable: they do the basics well for 90 minutes, and that has translated into performances and results.
A sturdy, workmanlike spine with a star individual in Ben Knight, Harris’ team have put themselves in a great position to secure an instant return to League One.
Micky Mellon, meanwhile, has Oldham on the fringes of the Play-Off scramble in their first season back in the EFL, via an unbeaten run of eight wins in nine across February and March.
Mellon is loved at Boundary Park, has a great relationship with owner Frank Rothwell, and will be keen to take them back to the third tier – this season or next.
Gab Sutton’s Pick: Andy Woodman (Bromley)
