Derek McInnes of Heart of Midlothian, John McGlynn who leads Falkirk, and Gary Naysmith, the man at the helm of League One side Stenhousemuir, have all been placed on the shortlist for the Scottish Professional Football League’s Manager of the Year award. The nominations were made in partnership with the Managers and Coaches Association of Scotland, reflecting the impressive achievements each coach has delivered over the course of the 2025‑26 campaign. McInnes’s inclusion is largely a testament to the remarkable resurgence of Hearts under his stewardship.
Since taking over the job last summer, the 54‑year‑old has steered the Jambos to the edge of a league triumph that has eluded the club since the 1965‑66 season. At the time of writing, Hearts sit three points clear at the summit of the Scottish Premiership and have dominated the table for the vast majority of the season.
Their record at Tynecastle Park is particularly striking – the team remains unbeaten at home in league play, and across all competitions they have suffered only four defeats since McInnes arrived. Such consistency has not only revived the club’s fortunes but also re‑ignited the hopes of a fan base that has been waiting decades for a title challenge. John McGlynn, meanwhile, is on the verge of achieving a historic third straight Manager of the Year award.
He previously secured the accolade in both 2024 and 2025, and his continued success with Falkirk underscores his reputation as one of Scotland’s most effective tacticians. After guiding the Bairns to back‑to‑back promotions, McGlynn oversaw a seamless transition back into the top flight, where Falkirk finished in the top six in their first season after promotion – a feat that many pundits had deemed unlikely.
The side’s disciplined defensive structure, coupled with an attacking flair that produced a host of memorable victories, has cemented McGlynn’s status as a manager capable of extracting the maximum from limited resources. Gary Naysmith’s work at Stenhousemuir has also drawn considerable attention. The former professional player has transformed a modest League One outfit into a formidable home force, with the team yet to lose a single match at their home ground this season.
Stenhousemuir’s defensive solidity and collective spirit have made them a difficult opponent for any visiting side, and Naysmith’s ability to organise his squad around a clear, pragmatic game plan has not gone unnoticed by the selection panel. Beyond the three nominees, the announcement also highlighted a range of other honours and nominations across Scottish football.
In the women’s game, Hearts’ Eva Olid appears on the shortlist for the SWPL Manager of the Year, while Glasgow City’s Leanne Ross and Partick Thistle’s Gary Holt have also been recognised for their contributions to the women’s league. On the player front, Hearts’ forward Lawrence Shankland and teammate Claudio Braga are among those vying for the PFA Scotland Player of the Year award, competing against Motherwell’s Elijah Just and Tawanda Maswanhise. The young talent category features a host of promising names, including Rangers’ Mikey Moore, Falkirk’s Barney Stewart, Arbroath’s Findlay Marshall and Dundee’s Luke Graham. In the women’s youth awards, Glasgow City’s Lee Gibson and Nicole Kozlova, Hearts’ Georgia Timms, and Rangers’ Katie Wilkinson have all earned nominations.
Additional young player 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 also being invited to vote for the Scottish Premiership Goal of the Season. The shortlist features an eclectic mix of spectacular strikes from across the league, including Aberdeen’s Marko Lazitic, 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 Kiziridis, Kilmarnock’s Ben Brannan, and Rangers’ duo Jayden Meghoma and Youssef Chermiti. Supporters can view all twelve contenders and cast their vote for the most memorable finish.
The SPFL’s awards ceremony promises to celebrate not only managerial excellence but also the broader achievements of players, coaches, and clubs across both the men’s and women’s leagues. With the title race still undecided – Hearts sit two points ahead of Inverness Caledonian Thistle with one game remaining – the final weeks of the season are set to deliver high drama and potentially historic outcomes. Whether Hearts will finally break their half‑century title drought, or whether another club will seize the moment, the nominations for manager of the year underline the quality and competitive spirit that currently define Scottish football. Fans are encouraged to follow the live Scottish Premiership table, stream matches without a contract, and watch free highlights to stay up‑to‑date with the unfolding storylines.
Additionally, a promotional Super 6 competition offers participants the chance to win a £250,000 prize, further adding excitement to an already thrilling season.