Every Premier League Manager of the Season 2025–26 Nominee Ranked From Worst to Best

The winner of the Premier League Manager of the Season award for 2025–26 will be revealed shortly, following the announcement of this year's nominees.

First presented in 1993–94, the accolade typically goes to the manager whose side lifts the title. That is why Sir Alex Ferguson, the first-ever recipient, claimed it on 11 occasions.

However, exceptions exist, as George Burley, Alan Pardew, Harry Redknapp and Tony Pulis have all been honored for accomplishments beyond simply winning the championship. On occasion, steering an underdog club to a position well above expectations can outweigh trophy success.

Here are the six managers nominated in 2025–26, ranked by Sports Illustrated in order of merit.

6. Pep Guardiola (Man City)

Pep Guardiola has been overseeing a Manchester City rebuilding project this season, is guaranteed to finish no lower than second place and could even wrap up a seventh Premier League crown.

Yet it still feels underwhelming by his own lofty standards and those of the club, particularly when this City side would have struggled against some of the opposition they have previously encountered over the last decade.

For almost any other club, a second-place finish would be a tremendous accomplishment. But everything is relative, and Pep has built his legacy on far greater things.

5. Régis Le Bris (Sunderland)

The fact that Sunderland have never come close to a relegation battle in their first top-flight season in eight years speaks volumes about what Régis Le Bris has accomplished.

The Frenchman's tactical approach has been central to that success, making his side defensively solid and difficult to break down—evidenced by the team conceding only one more defeat than Liverpool.

The Black Cats only need to match Newcastle United's results across the final two fixtures to finish above their fiercest rivals. A top-half finish also remains possible, something Sunderland have not achieved since 2010–11.

4. Mikel Arteta (Arsenal)

After years of agonizing near misses, Mikel Arteta stands on the verge of ending Arsenal's longest drought between league titles since the club won its first championship back in 1931.

Provided the Gunners hold their nerve, this represents a monumental achievement, and Arteta has broken a generational cycle of underperformance by doing what was necessary, however you choose to view it. Stylistically, it hasn't always been pretty, and there is something about the manner in which it has unfolded that leaves a slightly bitter aftertaste.

At best, should Arsenal win their two remaining games, it will represent the fourth-lowest points total for a Premier League champion in the 22 years since the Gunners last claimed the title.

Winning is everything, of course, but is this really the vision he had in mind?

3. Keith Andrews (Brentford)

Following the departure of manager Thomas Frank, along with top scorers Bryan Mbeumo and Yoana Wissa—who combined for 39 Premier League goals last season—a significant drop-off from Brentford seemed inevitable to many. Relegation would not have been an unreasonable prediction.

Yet former assistant Keith Andrews has stepped out from his predecessor's shadow and is on the verge of guiding the Bees to their highest-ever league finish. A first-ever European qualification is not entirely out of reach either.

Remarkably, this is also the Irishman's first season as a head coach.

2. Michael Carrick (Man Utd)

In fewer than half a season, Michael Carrick has utterly transformed Manchester United's trajectory. While it seemed unlikely the club would sink to 2024–25's 51-year low, the team was still struggling to string together consistent victories when Ruben Amorim was dismissed in early January.

Carrick has won 10 of his 15 games in charge, accumulating 33 points from a possible 45—a better return than any other side over the same stretch.

The 44-year-old was handed the task of securing Champions League qualification, which he delivered with three matches to spare, almost certainly earning himself a permanent role in the process.

1. Andoni Iraola (Bournemouth)

Should results fall Bournemouth's way—including an Aston Villa victory in the Europa League—Andoni Iraola's farewell gift to the Cherries could be nothing less than Champions League football.

Having lost three-quarters of his defensive unit and a key winger in the summer transfer window, only for his standout player to then be sold in January, it is a genuinely extraordinary feat to have found answers to those problems and still be on course to finish as the sixth-best team in England. Bournemouth are, after all, the Premier League's smallest club.

Iraola will seek new challenges elsewhere next season, and Bournemouth will not be the same without him.