As soon as the last Premier League matches of the season have been completed, the Manager of the Year Award is announced.
Five managers were this year in the running – Thomas Frank, Nuno Espirito Santo, Vitor Pereira, Eddie Howe and Arne Slot – and each could make a reasonable claim for the landing of the Gong.
Votes have already been cast by the public and a panel of football experts and the winner will almost certainly be known behind the scenes, but it is worth it to go deeper into the merits of the various contenders.
Arne Slot
The Dutchman made his first season in the English top flight that looks simple.
When Jurgen Klopp said goodbye to Liverpool last season, no one expected Arne to come in, use almost exactly the same squadron personnel and won the title at a canter.
Sometimes the football played by the Reds was sublime, but for all the beautiful passing triangles there was still a steel determination about the defensive aspects of their game.
Liverpool -Manager Arne Slot celebrates the winning of the Premier League title after a victory over Tottenham Hotspur FC on April 27, 2025 in Liverpool, England. Kobie Abott / Sports Press Photo / S / Shutterstock Editorial / Profimedia
The way in which most teams were defeated, especially in Anfield, threw back to the unstoppable Liverpool parties of the late 1970s and early 80s, and they will certainly still be the team that will beat next season.
What will be interesting to see is whether opponents have worked out a way to dilute the brilliant possession of lock.
The manager has set the bar high and will probably be the favorite for this specific price.
2024/25 EPL Record (37 games played): P37 W25 D8 L4 GF85 GA40 GD+45
Nuno Espirito Santo
Nottingham Forest enjoyed something from a Renaissance itself under Nuno Espirito Santo, and the difficult trees can still qualify for next season's Champions League when they win their last game against Chelsea and the results go elsewhere.
The first team to defeated Liverpool this season, the victory in Anfield was Forest in decades and they also succeeded it with a victory at Old Trafford for the first time since the mid -90s.
Nottingham Forest Manager, Nuno Espirito Santo, gestures for fans after the victory over West Ham Unitedwestern / Colorsport / Shutterstock Editorial / Profimedia
Last season ending in 17th place and only a few points of relegation were not only on the Portuguese – who took over it in December 2023 – and hintt on perhaps how Bros was confidence in the team.
A summer transfer window later and the possibility of wiping the slate clean, forest hit the ground and never looked back.
The fact that they are somewhere near the European places, let alone in the Conference League, is a masterful achievement, and his three manager of the month awards in 24/25 (more than anyone) acknowledges that.
2024/25 EPL Record (37 games played): P37 W19 D8 L10 GF58 GA45 GD+13
Eddie Howe
After he had come close to winning silverware and had enjoyed a Champions League campaign under Eddie Howe, Newcastle has deteriorated a bit in the Premier League season 2023/24.
Injuries and the extra charge of playing European football on top of domestic matches clearly took its toll.
This season, however, the magpies returned with a bang and finally the millstone around the collective neck of those in the club was lifted. The Carabao Cup victory at Liverpool in Wembley ended a 70-year waiting time for a large trophy and Newcastle was a good price for their triumph.
Newcastle United Manager Eddie Howe holds up the Carabao Cup trophy after his silk Liverpool defeated in Wembley on March 16, 2025MI News / Nurphoto / Shutterstock Editorial / Profimedia
The Champions League goes again, and if the team can win their game on Everton in their last game, they will secure a hugely deserving third place.
Although it can be suggested that with the players and the financial support that Newcastle has, nothing less than the regular Champions League qualification and domestic or European titles that are won is acceptable, it is not a fact that will be the case.
Where Howe can also celebrate a 'victory', is the playing style that he brings to the table. His side is so attractive to see when he is in full swing that as long as he is not forced to sell someone, Newcastle can be a real strength again next season.
2024/25 EPL Record (37 Games played): P37 W20 D6 L11 GF68 GA46 GD+22
Thomas Frank
When Ivan Toney was persuaded to leave Brentford for the wealth of the Saudi Pro League, there were valid question marks about who the infringement would step and score the goals to keep the Premier League status of Brentford intact.
Fortunately, people like Bryan Mbeumo and Yoan Wissa have been performed and, with one competition, the bees were allowed to lose Wolves and Brighton from Tottenham, Thomas Frank led his side to an eighth place that Brentford ever would be.
Brentford -Manager Thomas Frank before the Premier League match against Fulham.bradley Collyer, PA Images / Alamy / Profimedia
That would be a good reward for a different season under Frank's brilliant custody, and it is also worth noting that even without Toney the team scored 65 goals.
Only Man City and the top four teams in the Premier League have scored more.
Given the resources with which Frank and his back room team have to work, the DANE can again be proud of his performance this season.
2024/25 EPL Record (37 games played): P37 W16 D7 L14 GF65 GA56 GD+9
VEBOR PEREIRA
Although Wolves have not really had a season to write home about it, the job that Vorror Pereira did in the club is downright wonderful.
Took over in December, the focus of the manager was simple. Win enough games to pull them out of the relegation.
The Midlanders were 19th in the table when he walked through the door and apparently Pereira had inherited a team without all the confidence.
Wolves Manager, Vitor Pereira, arrives in Selhurst Park prior to the match against Crystal Palacehenning von Jagow / Actionplus / Profimedia
We often hear about a 'New Manager Bounce', but it could hardly have been clearer than at Wolves, because the club won 10 and drew two of the next 18 games.
Premier League status is retained and the only question now is whether Pereira gets the means to be able to build a side that can challenge for the European places.
The 56-year-old certainly deserves to make this list, even if he is considered the outsider.
2024/25 EPL Record (37 games played): P37 W12 D5 L19 GF51 GA64 GD-13