The League Managers Association will hand out its top honour in London on Tuesday evening, but there is no guarantee it will go to the Premier League's title-winning boss. Mikel Arteta, who led Arsenal to the Premier League title and a Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain, is a strong contender for the LMA Manager of the Year award.
Unusual Winners in LMA History
The LMA Manager of the Year award has a history of surprising outcomes. Since its introduction in 1993, only seven of 33 winners have been from outside the Premier League, with the most recent being Kieran McKenna in 2024. McKenna, then Ipswich Town manager, won after finishing second in the Championship, beating Pep Guardiola, who had just secured his fourth consecutive Premier League title. Other quirks include George Burley winning in 2000-01 after Ipswich finished fifth in the Premier League, while Alex Ferguson and Gerard Houllier missed out. In 2004-05, David Moyes won after Everton's fourth-place finish, despite Jose Mourinho's Premier League and League Cup double with Chelsea. The following year, Steve Coppell won after Reading's Championship title.
Arteta's Stellar Season
Arteta's Arsenal conceded only 27 goals in the Premier League and just six en route to the Champions League final. They also reached the Carabao Cup final and the FA Cup quarter-finals. His mental fortitude and ability to overcome near misses and competition from the game's greatest coach make him a worthy candidate. Other contenders include Andy Woodman at Bromley, Michael Skubala at Lincoln City, Frank Lampard at Coventry City, and Unai Emery after Aston Villa's Europa League win. However, Arteta's achievements stand out.
Arteta has organised his team to be defensively solid while navigating scepticism about his ability to succeed at the highest level. His players have shared his resilience, which has been key to Arsenal's success. Across all four divisions, there are many worthy candidates, but none are worthier than Arteta.
