Frank Lampard, Alex Neil, Sergej Jakirovic and Kim Hellberg have been shortlisted 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 19 April, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Football from 8.30pm.
Coventry City’s Frank Lampard is nominated after guiding his side to the top of the Championship. He is joined on the shortlist by Alex Neil (Millwall), Sergej Jakirovic (Hull City) and Kim Hellberg (Middlesbrough), whose teams are all firmly in contention for promotion as the season reaches its climax.
The EFL Championship Player of the Season award features four players who have been influential in their clubs’ promotion pushes and goalscoring charts. Middlesbrough’s Hayden Hackney has been a consistent all‑round presence in midfield for his boyhood club. Coventry City goalkeeper Carl Rushworth has been outstanding for the league leaders. Millwall wide-player Femi Azeez has impressed with eight goals and seven assists, while Swansea City striker Zan Vipotnik completes the shortlist as the division’s top scorer with 20 goals.
In League One, the Manager of the Season nominees are Michael Skubala, who has already steered Lincoln City to promotion, Graham Alexander (Bradford City), Brian Barry-Murphy (Cardiff City) and Alex Revell (Stevenage). The League One Player of the Season shortlist includes Dom Ballard (Leyton Orient), Owen Bailey (Doncaster Rovers), Jack Moylan (Lincoln City) and Sonny Bradley (Lincoln City).
League Two’s Manager of the Season nominees are Andy Woodman (Bromley), Paul Warne (Milton Keynes Dons), Micky Mellon (Oldham Athletic) and Neil Harris (Cambridge United). The League Two Player of the Season shortlist features Bromley’s Mitch Pinnock and Omar Sowumni, Aaron Drinan (Swindon Town) and Callum Paterson (Milton Keynes Dons).
The EFL Young Player of the Season awards will again be presented divisionally to recognise 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 honours, the Contribution to League Football and Sir Tom Finney awards, will be presented at the ceremony. The Contribution to League Football award is presented annually by the EFL Board to an individual who has given a lifetime’s service to the professional game on and/or off the pitch. Last year’s recipient was legendary manager Neil Warnock; past winners also include Chris Kamara MBE and John Motson OBE. The Sir Tom Finney Award recognises outstanding careers and contributions to the EFL; previous winners include Adebayo Akinfenwa and Jobi McAnuff. Recipients of both awards will be announced on the night.
Seven additional off-the-pitch awards will also be handed out, recognising the work of clubs, players, staff and supporters away from the field. The Community Club of the Season award is contested by Blackburn Rovers, Plymouth Argyle and Bristol Rovers. The Community Player of the Season shortlist includes last year’s winner Taylor Moore (Bristol Rovers), Will Vaulks (Oxford United) and Hamish Douglas (Rotherham United).
Other off-field shortlists include the Diversity Award, Environmental Award, Fan Engagement Award and Club Employee Award, among others.
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
EFL Community Project of the Season
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 – Menopause & Menstruation Friendly Pioneers
Southampton – Deaf Inclusion
EFL Environmental Award, Sponsored by IMG
Birmingham City – Blues Go Green
Bradford City – Greener Bantams
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
Sir Tom Finney Award
To be announced on the night.
Contribution to League Football Award
To be announced on the night.
EFL Championship Team of the Season, Sponsored by Clarion
To be announced on the night.
EFL League One Team of the Season, Sponsored by Clarion
To be announced on the night.
EFL League Two Team of the Season, Sponsored by Clarion
To be announced on the night.
EFL Goal of the Season, Sponsored by Hawk-Eye Innovations
To be announced on the night.