Frank Lampard Wins LMA Manager of the Year After Coventry Promotion

Frank Lampard has won the League Managers Association manager of the year award after leading Coventry City back to the Premier League, according to BBC Sport.

Lampard's Coventry side won the Championship title by 11 points, earning promotion to the top flight for the first time since the 2000-01 season. The Sky Blues were the Championship's highest scorers with 97 goals in 46 games and also posted the division's best defensive record.

The award is named the Sir Alex Ferguson trophy and is voted on by managers across the leagues. It takes into account both results and the resources available to each manager. England manager Thomas Tuchel presented Lampard with the award. Tuchel read out a letter from Ferguson, who wrote that Lampard's Coventry play "great football with confidence and belief." Ferguson added, "I have enjoyed watching you. Best of luck in the Premier League next season."

Also shortlisted were Brentford's Keith Andrews, Arsenal's Mikel Arteta, Aston Villa's Unai Emery, Bournemouth's Andoni Iraola, Manchester City's Pep Guardiola, Lincoln City's Michael Skubala, and Bromley's Andy Woodman.

Arteta, who guided Arsenal to their first Premier League title in 22 years, won the Premier League manager of the year award. Skubala took the League One honor after winning the third tier with Lincoln City, while Woodman won the League Two award after leading Bromley to that title. Manchester City's Andree Jeglertz won the Women's Super League award. Karen Hills, who led Charlton to the WSL for the first time, won the WSL2 award. Steve Bruce and Martin O'Neill were inducted into the LMA Hall of Fame after each reaching 1,000 games as a manager.

The award is the most significant individual honor of Lampard's coaching career. He managed Derby County to the Championship play-off final in 2019 before being appointed at Chelsea, where he spent 13 years as a player. He was sacked after 18 months and later returned as caretaker. He also spent less than a year at Everton, where he oversaw an escape from relegation before being dismissed.

Recent winners of the LMA's top award from outside the Premier League include Chris Wilder, who won it with Sheffield United in 2019, and Kieran McKenna of Ipswich, who won in 2024.

Coventry will play in the Premier League next season for the first time in 25 years.