Premier League reveals four nominees for August Manager of the Month

The Premier League has shortlisted four August candidates after each manager opened the campaign with two victories and a perfect six-point return.

Following the Player of the Month shortlist, the Premier League announced the four nominees for the August 2026 Barclays Manager of the Month award on Thursday, 3 September. Supporters can vote until 12:00 BST on Monday, 7 September. Their votes will be combined with those of a panel of football experts, with the winner set to be revealed on Friday, 11 September.

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How the four nominated managers performed

• Mikel Arteta (Arsenal): 2 matches, 2 wins, 6 points, 4 goals scored and none conceded, for a +4 goal difference. The reigning champions beat Coventry 3-0 and Aston Villa 1-0, allowing only one shot on target.
• Xabi Alonso (Chelsea): 2 matches, 2 wins, 6 points, 7 goals scored and 5 conceded, for a +2 difference. The Spaniard began his Premier League career with entertaining victories over Fulham (3-2) and Brighton (4-3).
• Sergej Jakirovic (Hull City): 2 matches, 2 wins, 6 points, 3 goals scored, none conceded and a +3 difference. The promoted side stunned Manchester United 2-0 before defeating Coventry 1-0 with a late winner.
• Enzo Maresca (Manchester City): 2 matches, 2 wins, 6 points, 6 goals scored and 2 conceded, for a +4 difference. His substitutions inspired a 2-1 comeback against Bournemouth before City swept Crystal Palace aside 4-1.

Arteta, Maresca or Jakirovic: who has the strongest case?

All four managers have perfect records, but their nominations are built on different strengths. Chelsea lead the quartet with seven goals, while Arsenal produced the most controlled performances, keeping two clean sheets and facing only one shot on target. Manchester City match the Gunners’ best goal difference of +4 after displaying both resilience and attacking dominance.

Jakirovic, however, is the standout surprise. Hull came up through the Championship playoffs and immediately collected two wins without conceding, including a statement victory over Manchester United. Relative to pre-season expectations, the Croatian has an especially compelling case against the managers of three title favourites.

Mahdi Zakaria LAZRI |

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Football web writer creating digital sports content with a focus on news, analysis and stories that reflect passion, accuracy and objectivity.

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