Derek McInnes of Heart of Midlothian, John McGlynn who currently leads Falkirk, and Gary Naysmith, the man at the helm of League One outfit Stenhousemuir, have all secured places on the shortlist for the Scottish Professional Football League’s Manager of the Year accolade. The nominations were made in partnership with the Managers and Coaches Association of Scotland, recognising the remarkable achievements each coach has delivered over the course of the 2025‑26 campaign. McInnes’s nomination stems from his remarkable stewardship of Hearts, who have surged to the very edge of a league title that has eluded the club since the 1965‑66 season. Under his guidance, the Jambos sit three points clear at the summit of the Scottish Premiership and have dominated the league table for the bulk of the campaign.
Since taking charge in the summer of last year, the 54‑year‑old manager has overseen an unbeaten run at Tynecastle Park in league competition, and the team has suffered only four defeats across all fixtures this season. Such consistency has reignited hopes among the Hearts faithful that a long‑awaited championship could finally be within reach. John McGlynn is chasing a historic third consecutive Manager of the Year award after having already collected the honour in both 2024 and 2025. His work at Falkirk has been nothing short of transformative.
After guiding the Bairns to back‑to‑back promotions, McGlynn steered the side to a respectable top‑six finish in their first season back in the Premiership, a feat that many pundits had written off as unrealistic. The club’s ability to compete against more financially endowed teams has been attributed to McGlynn’s tactical acumen, his emphasis on developing young talent, and his knack for fostering a resilient team spirit. Gary Naysmith, meanwhile, has impressed admirers at Stenhousemuir with a campaign that has seen his side remain unbeaten at home throughout the League One season.
The consistency displayed at the club’s home ground has turned Stenhousemuir into a formidable opponent, and Naysmith’s leadership has been praised for its clarity of purpose and the attractive style of football the team now regularly exhibits. While the club may not yet be challenging for promotion, the foundation Naysmith has built suggests a bright future for the Warriors. Beyond the three nominees, the awards ceremony also highlights achievements across the women’s game and the broader Scottish football landscape. Hearts’ women’s side, featuring standout player Eva Olid, is currently two points clear at the top of the SWPL table and is poised to claim the league title for the first time in its history.
Glasgow City, sitting second in the women’s league, have seen head coach Leanne Ross nominated for a second league‑winning trophy, having previously enjoyed a distinguished playing career that included 13 victories with the club. Former professional midfielder Gary Holt, who has previously managed both Kilmarnock and Falkirk and also took charge of Livingston, appears on the shortlist after leading Partick Thistle to a top‑six finish in the SWPL.
His experience across multiple clubs and divisions has earned him recognition as a manager capable of adapting his approach to different squads and competitive environments. The awards also extend to player categories. Hearts forwards Claudio Braga and Lawrence Shankland are pitted against Motherwell’s Elijah Just and Tawanda Maswanhise for the PFA Scotland Player of the Year honour.
In the young‑player bracket, Rangers’ Mikey Moore joins the likes of Falkirk’s Barney Stewart, Arbroath’s Findlay Marshall and Dundee’s Luke Graham. Female nominees include Glasgow City’s Lee Gibson and Nicole Kozlova, Hearts’ Georgia Timms, and Rangers’ forward Katie Wilkinson, while the young‑player prize features a mix of talent from Rangers, Hibernian and Glasgow City.
As the 2025/26 season draws to a dramatic close, fans are invited to vote for the Scottish Premiership Goal of the Season. The shortlist boasts a diverse array of spectacular strikes, ranging from Marko Lazitic’s effort for Aberdeen to Reo Hatate’s for Celtic, Callum McGregor’s for Celtic, Hyun‑Jun Yang’s for Celtic, Sebastian Tounekti’s for Celtic, Ethan Hamilton’s for Dundee, Zac Sapsford’s for Dundee United, Kyrell Wilson’s for Falkirk, Alex Kyziridis’s for Hearts, Ben Brannan’s for Kilmarnock, and the Rangers duo Jayden Meghoma and Youssef Chermiti.
Supporters can view all twelve goals online and cast their vote for the most memorable moment. In addition to the awards, the SPFL continues to promote fan engagement through initiatives such as the Super 6 competition, which offers participants a chance to win a £250,000 prize pool. The competition is free to enter and provides an extra layer of excitement for supporters as the season reaches its climax.
Overall, the nominations for Manager of the Year underscore a season of impressive managerial performances across Scottish football. Whether it is McInnes’s title‑challenging Hearts, McGlynn’s revitalised Falkirk, or Naysmith’s steadfast Stenhousemuir, each nominee has demonstrated a blend of strategic insight, player development, and an ability to exceed expectations, making them worthy contenders for the prestigious award.