EFL latest: Frank Lampard, Alex Neil and Kim Hellberg all nominated for end-of-season manager of the year

Frank Lampard, Alex Neil, Sergej Jakirovic and Kim Hellberg have been nominated for the EFL Championship Manager of the Season Award at the 2026 EFL Awards.

All winners will be announced live at the League’s annual ceremony on Sunday, April 19, which will also be broadcast live on Sky Sports Football from 8.30 p.m.

Coventry City’s Lampard is up for the EFL Championship Manager of the Season award after taking his side to the top of the table. Lampard is joined by Neil (Millwall), Jakirovic (Hull City) and Hellberg (Middlesbrough), whose respective teams are all firmly in contention for promotion as we approach the season finale.

Meanwhile, the EFL Championship Player of the Season award is contested by three players who have played crucial roles in their clubs’ promotion, as well as the division’s top scorer.

Middlesbrough’s Hayden Hackney has led the way for his boyhood club and has consistently delivered all-round performances from the heart of midfield. Elsewhere, Coventry City goalkeeper Carl Rushworth has been outstanding between the sticks for the league leaders, while Millwall winger Femi Azeez has had an impressive season for the Lions, scoring eight and assisting seven. The shortlist is completed by Swansea City striker Zan Vipotnik, who is currently the top scorer in the division with 20 goals.

In League One, the Manager of the Season award will be contested by four managers, including Michael Skubala, who has already guided Lincoln City to promotion, along with Graham Alexander (Bradford City), Brian Barry-Murphy (Cardiff City) and Alex Revell (Stevenage).

Meanwhile, Dom Ballard (Leyton Orient), Owen Bailey (Doncaster Rovers), Jack Moylan (Lincoln City) and Sonny Bradley (Lincoln City) could win the Player of the Season award.

In League Two, Andy Woodman (Bromley), Paul Warne (MK Dons), Micky Mellon (Oldham Athletic) and Neil Harris (Cambridge United) have been shortlisted for manager of the season, while the player of the season award will be contested by Bromley pair Mitch Pinnock and Omar Sowumni, along with Callon Patenton Drina (Swindon Drina) and Callon Patton Drina (Swindon Town). Keynes Dons).

The EFL Young Player of the Season awards will again be handed out divisionally to recognize the best young talent across the league, while the EFL Teams of the Season and Goal of the Season will be revealed on the night.

The league’s two most prestigious awards, the Contribution to League Football and the Sir Tom Finney awards, will be presented on the night. The Contribution to League Football award is presented annually by the EFL Board to an individual who has made a lifetime of service to the professional game on and/or off the pitch. Legendary football manager Neil Warnock was presented with the award last year, while other past winners include Chris Kamara MBE and John Motson OBE.

Awarded to recipients who have had an outstanding career and contributed exceptionally to the EFL, past winners of the Sir Tom Finney Award include Adebayo Akinfenwa and Jobi McAnuff.

Seven additional off-pitch awards will also be presented on the night, recognizing the exceptional hard work and commitment shown off the pitch by clubs, their players, staff and supporters. Among these is the Community Club of Season award, which will be contested by Blackburn Rovers, Plymouth Argyle and Bristol Rovers.

The Community Player of the Season is also awarded, in recognition of a player who has gone above and beyond to make an outstanding contribution to the local community. Last year’s winner, Bristol Rovers’ Taylor Moore is on the shortlist again, along with Oxford United’s Will Vaulks and Hamish Douglas of Rotherham United.

2026 EFL Awards Shortlists

EFL Championship Manager of the Season, sponsored by Football Manager

Frank Lampard – Coventry City
Alex Neil – Millwall
Sergej Jakirovic – Hull City
Kim Hellberg – Middlesbrough

EFL League One Manager of the Season, sponsored by Football Manager

Graham Alexander – Bradford City
Michael Skubala – Lincoln City
Brian Barry-Murphy – Cardiff City
Alex Revell – Stevenage

EFL League Two Manager of the Season, sponsored by Football Manager

Andy Woodman – Bromley
Paul Warne – Milton Keynes Dons
Micky Mellon – Oldham Athletic
Neil Harris – Cambridge United

EFL Championship Player of the Season, sponsored by Sky Bet

Hayden Hackney – Middlesbrough
Carl Rushworth – Coventry City
Femi Azeez – Millwall
Zan Vipotnik – Swansea City

EFL League One Player of the Season, sponsored by Sky Bet

Dom Ballard – Leyton Orient
Owen Bailey – Doncaster Rovers
Jack Moylan – Lincoln City
Sonny Bradley – Lincoln City

EFL League Two Player of the Season, sponsored by Sky Bet

Aaron Drinan – Swindon Town
Mitch Pinnock – Bromley
Callum Paterson – Milton Keynes Dons
Omar Sowumni – Bromley

EFL Championship Young Player of the Season, sponsored by EA Sports

Jordan James – Leicester City
Ashley Phillips – Stoke City
Sydie Peck – Sheffield United
Bobby Clark – Derby County

EFL League One Young Player of the Season, sponsored by EA Sports

Dom Ballard – Leyton Orient
Amario Cozier-Duberry – Bolton Wanderers
Dylan Lawlor – Cardiff City
Jenson Metcalfe – Bradford City

EFL League Two Young Player of the Season, sponsored by EA Sports

Matty Young – Salford City
Daniel Kanu – Walsall
Sam Gale – Gillingham
Tom Iorpenda – Notts County

EFL Championship Apprentice of the Season, sponsored by LFE

Louis Page – Leicester City
Leo Pecover – Bristol City
Sheldon Kendall – Millwall

EFL League One Apprentice of the Season, sponsored by LFE

Sulyman Krubally – Burton Albion
Ryan Doherty – Stevenage
Tegan Finn – Plymouth Argyle

EFL League Two Apprentice of the Season, sponsored by LFE

Ollie Dewsbury – Bristol Rovers
Mamadou Diallo – Cheltenham Town
Rian Silver – MK Dons

EFL Community Club of the Season

Blackburn Rovers
Plymouth Argyle
Bristol Rovers

The season’s EFL Community Project

Blackburn Rovers – Dads FC
Plymouth Argyle – Argyle4Autism
Notts County – Baby Remembrance Wall

EFL Player in the Community, sponsored by the PFA

Will Vaulks – Oxford United
Hamish Douglas – Rotherham United
Taylor Moore – Bristol Rovers

EFL Diversity Award

Bristol City – We Are City
Huddersfield Town – transition and period friendly pioneers
Southampton – Deaf Inclusion

EFL Environmental Award, sponsored by IMG

Birmingham City – Blues Go Green
Bradford City – Greener doles
Harrogate Town – HarryGator Walk to School

EFL Fan Engagement Award, sponsored by Live·Team

Bristol Rovers
Cardiff City – Bluebirds Uncaged
Huddersfield Town – Terriers Together Travel

EFL Club Employee Award

Rae Walker – Grimsby Town
Wendy Thomas – Middlesbrough
Alan Long – Lincoln City

The Sir Tom Finney Award