December's Premier League Stars Crowned: Player and Manager of the Month Awards Unveiled
Leeds United forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin has earned the Premier League Player of the Month accolade for December 2025, while Aston Villa's Unai Emery secured the monthly coaching honor.
The holiday season started with Leeds languishing in the drop zone and close to dismissing manager Daniel Farke, but adopting a 3-5-2 formation has transformed the Yorkshire club's fortunes, with Calvert-Lewin emerging as the primary beneficiary.
The striker scored six times across five matches, registering goals in every game, helping secure wins against Chelsea and Crystal Palace while earning draws with Liverpool, Brentford and Sunderland.
This marks Calvert-Lewin's first recognition since September 2020 and represents the first occasion a Leeds player has claimed the Premier League's Player of the Month honor since Rio Ferdinand received it in October 2001.
December 2025 Player of the Month Nominees
December 2025 Player of the Month Nominees
Previous Winners
Previous Winners
Player | Club | Month |
|---|---|---|
Jack Grealish | Everton | August |
Erling Haaland | Man City | September |
Bryan Mbeumo | Man Utd | October |
Igor Thiago | Brentford | November |
Emery Named Manager of the Month
Emery Named Manager of the Month
Unai Emery: The Premier League Manager of the Month for December 👏 pic.twitter.com/9A1D7XoJQl
Leeds fall short of claiming both awards as Aston Villa's Emery has edged out Farke for December's Manager of the Month recognition.
Five victories from six fixtures, including triumphs over Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United, have thrust the Villans into Premier League title discussions and placed Emery in the spotlight during a festive spell where several prominent figures have been dismissed.
Emery will be hoping to avoid a jinx that seems to be developing around the Manager of the Month accolade.
Ruben Amorim claimed the honor in October, followed by Enzo Maresca securing it in November. Both managers later suffered defeats to Emery's Villa and are now unemployed after departing their roles at Man Utd and Chelsea respectively.
December 2025 Manager of the Month Nominees
December 2025 Manager of the Month Nominees
Previous Winners
Previous Winners
Manager | Club | Month |
|---|---|---|
Arne Slot | Liverpool | August |
Oliver Glasner | Crystal Palace | September |
Ruben Amorim | Man Utd | October |
Enzo Maresca | Chelsea | November |