Mikel Arteta is the frontrunner for the League Managers Association (LMA) Manager of the Year award, which will be presented at the 34th annual dinner in Mayfair on Tuesday evening. The Arsenal boss led his side to the Premier League title and a Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain, conceding just 27 league goals and six en route to Budapest.
The LMA award, voted by members across the four professional tiers, has historically favoured Premier League managers, with only seven of 33 winners coming from outside the top flight. Last year, Arne Slot won after guiding Liverpool to the title in his first season. Arteta's peers are expected to recognise the difficulty of winning the league in his sixth full season, overcoming scepticism and competition from Pep Guardiola.
Other notable candidates include Frank Lampard, who led Coventry City to the Championship title after play-off heartbreak; Andy Woodman at Bromley; Michael Skubala, whose Lincoln City amassed 103 points in League One; and Unai Emery, who won the Europa League with Aston Villa. However, Arteta's consistent defensive record and domestic cup runs—including a Carabao Cup final and FA Cup quarter-final—set him apart.
The LMA award has produced surprise winners before, such as George Burley (2001), David Moyes (2005), and Steve Coppell (2006), who won despite more high-profile achievements by others. Arteta's case is strengthened by his team's mental fortitude and ability to overcome near misses in previous seasons.
