Mikel Arteta and Marco Silva are among the six nominees for the Premier League Manager of the Season award.
It is no surprise that Arteta has made the shortlist, with the Arsenal boss winning the monthly award four times this campaign as a result of the Gunners’ title push.
That bid is ultimately set to fall short, but the Spaniard has been recognised for helping to transform a side that missed out on the top four last season into genuine contenders at the top of the table.
Silva has overseen Fulham’s superb first season back in the top-flight, with a record points tally in their sights after pre-season predictions of a relegation fight swiftly proved to be wide of the mark.
Former Arsenal manager Unai Emery made his Premier League return in October, replacing Steven Gerrard at Aston Villa when the club sat 16th in the table and just a point off the bottom three.
Since then there have been swift improvements and European football is still a possibility for Villa heading into the final two games of the season, with Tottenham in seventh ahead of them only on goal difference, and that has earned Emery a nomination.
Pep Guardiola is an obvious inclusion on the shortlist, with Manchester City on the verge of sealing a fifth Premier League title in six years. It will likely get even better for treble-chasing City too, with FA Cup and Champions League finals to come next month.
Roberto De Zerbi is nominated after Brighton’s superb campgain, the Seagulls showing no signs of missing Graham Potter and it is almost certain that they will be in the Europa League next season. Newcastle meanwhile are favourites to secure a Champions League spot despite somewhat of a late stumble and Eddie Howe has been shortlisted for the job he has done at St James’ Park.
