According to reports, fans have until Monday to vote for their favorite manager among Thomas Frank, Eddie Howe, Nuno Espirito Santo, Vitor Pereira, and Arne Slot.

The list notably excludes Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta. This is the first time in eight years that Guardiola has not been nominated for the award. Arteta’s absence is also surprising, given Arsenal’s title race with Liverpool until the final weeks. Arteta also led the Gunners to the Champions League semifinals.

Manager of the Season Nominees

Thomas Frank (Brentford), 8th in the table
Frank, now in his fourth Premier League season, has elevated Brentford to new heights, with the team on track for its best-ever finish (8th) and possibly securing European qualification for the first time in the club’s history. Despite losing star striker Ivan Toney in the summer transfer window, Frank’s team has scored 63 goals, making them the joint-fifth-best attack in the league.

Eddie Howe (Newcastle), 3rd in the table
Newcastle under Howe has already earned more points than last season and remains in contention for second place and a Champions League spot. Howe has secured notable victories against teams like Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest, Arsenal, and recently Chelsea. Newcastle hopes to repeat its best-ever Premier League finish—runner-up in the 1995/96 and 1996/97 seasons.

Nuno Espirito Santo (Nottingham Forest), 7th in the table
Nuno has orchestrated a remarkable turnaround since taking over Nottingham Forest in December 2023. He saved Forest from relegation last season and, in his first full season as manager, secured European qualification for the first time in over 30 years. He might even lead the team to the Champions League. With three Barclays Manager of the Month awards this season, Nuno has been the most successful manager.

Vitor Pereira (Wolverhampton), 14th in the table
When Pereira took over Wolves in December, the team was 19th in the table and facing a tough future. But with 10 wins and 2 draws in 18 games, he rescued the team from relegation and secured Wolves’ Premier League survival for next season. Pereira, beloved for celebrating with fans in cafes after matches, has fostered unity at Molineux and extracted the best from his players. He won the Manager of the Month award in April.

Arne Slot (Liverpool), Season Champion
Slot’s dream debut season, crowned with the Premier League title, made him the first Dutch manager to lift the trophy. Succeeding Jurgen Klopp seemed impossible, but Slot executed the transition flawlessly. With largely the same squad as Klopp, Slot revitalized Liverpool with his possession-based style and secured the title with four games to spare, matching Manchester United’s record of 20 Premier League titles.