Derek McInnes of Hearts, John McGlynn who leads Falkirk, and Gary Naysmith, the manager of League One club Stenhousemuir, have all been placed on the shortlist for the Scottish Professional Football League’s Manager of the Year honour. The nominations were made in partnership with the Managers and Coaches Association of Scotland, highlighting the impressive achievements each coach has delivered over the course of the 2025‑26 campaign. McInnes’s nomination stems from his remarkable work at Hearts, where he has steered the club to the edge of a league title for the first time since the mid‑1960s.
Under his guidance, the Jambos sit three points clear at the summit of the Scottish Premiership and have dominated the league table for the majority of the season. Since taking over in the summer of last year, the 54‑year‑old manager has overseen an unbeaten run at Tynecastle Park in league fixtures, and the team has suffered only four defeats in all competitions this season.
Such consistency has revived hopes among the Hearts faithful that a Premiership crown could finally be reclaimed after a 60‑year drought. John McGlynn, meanwhile, is chasing a historic third straight Manager of the Year award after having secured the accolade in both 2024 and 2025.
His tenure at Falkirk has been characterised by rapid progression: after guiding the Bairns to back‑to‑back promotions, he led them to a respectable top‑six finish in their first season back in the top flight. The club’s resurgence under McGlynn has been marked by a pragmatic style of play, a strong defensive record, and an ability to get the best out of a relatively modest squad.
The consistency of his results and the upward trajectory of Falkirk have made his nomination a logical choice for the award committee. Gary Naysmith’s work at Stenhousemuir has also attracted attention.
The former professional player turned manager has crafted an impressive home record in League One, keeping the club unbeaten at their ground throughout the season. His side’s disciplined performances and solid organization have turned Stenhousemuir into a difficult opponent for any visiting team, and the club’s overall improvement has been widely praised by pundits and supporters alike. Beyond the three nominees, the announcement also touched on a range of other Scottish football news.
In the women’s game, Hearts’ Eva Olid has been shortlisted for the SWPL Manager of the Year award, reflecting the club’s strong position at the top of the women’s league table where they sit two points clear and are in contention for their first title. Glasgow City, currently second in the SWPL, have Leanne Ross among the nominees, as she aims to add a second league trophy to her résumé after a distinguished playing career that yielded 13 victories for the club.
Gary Holt, a former midfielder for Kilmarnock and Falkirk who has also managed Livingston, completes the shortlist after guiding Partick Thistle to a top‑six finish in the women’s division. The player‑of‑the‑year nominations were also revealed. Hearts’ attacking duo Claudio Braga and Lawrence Shankland are competing against Motherwell’s Elijah Just and Tawanda Maswanhise for the PFA Scotland Player of the Year award.
In the young‑player category, Rangers’ Mikey Moore joins the list alongside Falkirk’s Barney Stewart, Arbroath’s Findlay Marshall and Dundee’s Luke Graham. The women’s player awards feature Glasgow City’s Lee Gibson and Nicole Kozlova, Hearts’ Georgia Timms, and Rangers’ forward Katie Wilkinson. For the young‑player prize in the women’s game, nominees include Rangers’ Laura Berry and May Cruft, Hibernian’s Rosie Livingstone, and Glasgow City’s Lisa Forrest. As the 2025/26 season draws to a dramatic close, fans are being invited to vote for their favourite goal of the season in the Scottish Premiership.
The shortlist comprises a diverse set of scorers: Aberdeen’s Marko Lazetic, Celtic’s Reo Hatate, Callum McGregor, Hyun‑Jun Yang and Sebastian Tounekti, Dundee’s Ethan Hamilton, Dundee United’s Zac Sapsford, Falkirk’s Kyrell Wilson, Hearts’ Alex Kyziridis, Kilmarnock’s Ben Brannan, and Rangers’ Jayden Meghoma and Youssev Chermiti. Supporters can view all twelve shortlisted goals and cast their vote through the league’s official portal.
In addition to the voting opportunity, the league is promoting its Super 6 competition, offering participants a chance to win a £250,000 prize pool. Entry to the contest is free, encouraging widespread engagement from fans across Scotland and beyond. The combination of managerial accolades, player recognitions, and interactive fan initiatives underscores the vibrant and competitive nature of Scottish football as it approaches the climax of the season.