Derek McInnes of Hearts, John McGlynn who leads Falkirk, and Gary Naysmith, the manager of League One outfit Stenhousemuir, have all been placed on the shortlist for the Scottish Professional Football League’s Manager of the Year honour. The nomination process is being carried out in partnership with the Managers and Coaches Association of Scotland, and each of the three candidates has a compelling case for why they deserve the accolade.
McInnes’s candidacy is largely built around the remarkable resurgence he has overseen at Heart of Midlothian. Since taking the helm last summer, the 54‑year‑old has guided the Jambos to the edge of a league title that has eluded the club since 1966.
Hearts sit three points clear at the summit of the Scottish Premiership and have dominated the table for the majority of the campaign. Their home record at Tynecastle Park is flawless – the team has not suffered a single defeat there under McInnes’s stewardship – and they have only been beaten four times in all competitions this season. Such consistency, especially in a league traditionally dominated by the Old Firm, has made McInnes a standout figure in Scottish football. John McGlynn, meanwhile, is chasing a historic third consecutive Manager of the Year award.
He secured the honour in both 2024 and 2025 and now looks to add a third trophy to his cabinet. McGlynn has taken Falkirk to unprecedented heights, steering the club through back‑to‑back promotions and then delivering a top‑six finish in their first season back in the Premiership. The Bairns have impressed with an attractive, attacking style of play and have shown resilience against more established sides, proving that McGlynn’s tactical acumen and man‑management skills are among the best in the country. Gary Naysmith’s work with Stenhousemuir in League One has also attracted considerable praise.
Under his guidance the team has become a fortress at home, remaining unbeaten at their ground throughout the season. Naysmith has cultivated a strong, cohesive squad that punches above its weight, and his ability to get the most out of limited resources has not gone unnoticed by the selection panel. Beyond the three nominees, the announcement also highlighted a range of other awards and nominees across Scottish football.
In the women’s game, Hearts’ Eva Olid has appeared on the SWPL shortlist, and her side currently sit two points clear at the top of the table, poised to claim their first women’s title. Glasgow City are second in the league and have seen head coach Leanne Ross nominated for a second league trophy, building on her successful playing career that included 13 victories for the club.
Gary Holt, a former midfielder for Kilmarnock and Falkirk who has also managed Livingston, is among the SWPL nominees after steering Partick Thistle to a top‑six finish. The shortlist for the PFA Scotland Player of the Year also features Hearts’ striking duo Claudio Braga and Lawrence Shankland, who will face off against Motherwell’s Elijah Just and Tawanda Maswanhise. In the young‑player categories, Rangers’ Mikey Moore joins the list alongside Barney Stewart of Falkirk, Findlay Marshall from Arbroath and Luke Graham of Dundee. The women’s player and young‑player nominations include Glasgow City’s Lee Gibson and Nicole Kozlova, Hearts’ Georgia Timms, Rangers’ Katie Wilkinson, as well as Laura Berry and May Cruft of Rangers, Rosie Livingstone of Hibernian and Lisa Forrest of Glasgow City.
As the 2025/26 season draws to a dramatic close, fans are being invited to vote for their favourite Scottish Premiership goal of the season. The shortlist features a diverse group of talent: Marko Lazitic of Aberdeen, Reo Hatate and Callum McGregor of Celtic, Hyun‑Jun Yang and Sebastian Tounekti, Ethan Hamilton of Dundee, Zac Sapsford of Dundee United, Kyrell Wilson of Falkirk, Alex Kyziridis of Hearts, Ben Brannan of Kilmarnock, and the Rangers pair Jayden Meghoma and Youssef Chermiti. Supporters can view all twelve shortlisted goals and cast their vote for the most memorable strike.
In addition to the footballing accolades, the league is promoting a promotional campaign called Super 6, which offers participants a chance to win a £250,000 prize pool. Entry to the competition is free, encouraging fans to engage with the sport beyond the pitch. Overall, the nominations underscore a season of excitement, surprise and high‑quality performances across both the men’s and women’s leagues in Scotland. Whether it is McInnes’s title‑challenging Hearts, McGlynn’s revitalised Falkirk, or Naysmith’s resilient Stenhousemuir, each manager has demonstrated the vision, determination and tactical expertise that the SPFL Manager of the Year award seeks to recognise.
The final vote will determine which of these distinguished coaches will lift the trophy and join the ranks of Scotland’s most respected football leaders.