The Manager of the Season, sponsored by Football Manager, winners have been revealed at the EFL Awards 2024 for the Sky Bet Championship, Sky Bet League One and Sky Bet League Two:]

• Crysencio Summerville named the Sky Bet Championship Player of the Season

• See who made the EFL Team of the Season line-ups

• Paul Stewart presented with the Contribution to League Football Award

• Charlton Athletic claim the EFL's Community Club of the Season

• Wes Burns wins Goal of the Season

• Blackburn Rovers scoop EFL Fan Engagement Award

Championship

Kieran McKenna – Ipswich Town

After taking Ipswich Town up from League One in 2022/23, Kieran McKenna is looking to make it back-to-back promotions with the Tractor Boys – whose last stint in the Premier League came over two decades ago in 2001/02 – this term.

The 37-year-old penned a new deal with the Suffolk side in June and got Ipswich off to a flying start when Championship football returned to Portman Road this summer as Ipswich won 11 of their opening 13 league games. Their form across the course of the campaign has McKenna’s men in contention for a top-two finish, with the Club seemingly embroiled in a three-horse race for automatic promotion.

McKenna, who was nominated for the divisional Manager of the Season last year, beat off competition from Leeds United’s Daniel Farke and Hull City’s Liam Rosenior to claim the coveted prize.

McKenna said: "It's certainly not been easy and it's testament to a whole lot of people at the Football Club. The players have been fantastic and as everyone knows, it's such a competitive division and so many games are tight and go down to fine margins and you can't come out on top every week but we've found a way so many weeks.

"We've got three big games now and we take the first one first. We'll do out very best and there are some top teams that are competing but it's nice to be in it."

League One

John Mousinho – Portsmouth

In his first managerial job, Portsmouth boss John Mousinho has flourished. Just over 12 months ago, the former defender was still on the books of Oxford United as a player-coach – making his achievements in his first full season in the hotseat all the more impressive. He finally opted to hang up his boots to take up the vacancy at League One side Pompey in January 2023.

Most notably, in December, Portsmouth set a new club record of 27 games without defeat in the league – a streak which began in mid-March last term with a 3-1 win over Accrington Stanley and ended with a 2-2 draw against Charlton Athletic in November.

Mousinho pipped Stevenage’s Steve Evans and Peterborough United’s Darren Ferguson – who were also nominated for the accolade – to the post.

Mousinho said: "I've absolutely loved it. When the call came in, I didn't expect to be offered the job. I thank the Club for taking that risk on me and it was a big risk, so it was a lot of faith that they put in me to do what we're trying to achieve. The players have been incredible this year and we've got three lads in the Team of the Season which gives me even more pride than winning this.

"The Portsmouth fans over the last 15 years have gone through a fair bit. For them to be able to experience a bit of success would mean the world to everyone connected to the Football Club and give the fans a reward for all of the hardship they've been through."

 

League Two

Nigel Clough – Mansfield Town 

This season saw Nigel Clough break his dad Brian Clough’s record for the most games managed with Mansfield Town, who are vying for automatic promotion from League Two this season under his tutelage.

The Stags came close to making a return to League One in 2021/22 when Clough’s men made it all the way to Wembley where they suffered heartbreak in the Play-Off Final at the hands of Port Vale. However, they dusted themselves off and the 58-year-old – who arrived at the Club in November 2020 following spells at Burton Albion, Derby County and Sheffield United – will be hoping this could be the year.

Clough rival managers MK Dons’ Mike Williamson and Crewe Alexandra’s Lee Bell to the award.

Clough said: "I think it's in the genes! There are so many factors involved, such as our owners giving us the time and and resources to assemble a squad that's challenged for three seasons now. The players have been magnificent in their effort and their character.

"I'm very happy with the way we've gone so far this season; we're the top goalscorers with the best defensive record. We've got an opportunity to get over the line on Tuesday after that great win at MK Dons on Saturday and we hope to get it tied up this week."