Six managers are in the running for the Premier League's Barclays Manager of the Month award for October 2026, and the shortlist is packed with some genuinely exciting tactical minds. Arsenal's Mikel Arteta, Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso, and Aston Villa's Unai Emery all made the cut, alongside Tottenham Hotspur's Roberto De Zerbi, Brighton's Fabian Hürzeler, and Bournemouth's Marco Rose.
The award recognises whichever manager delivered the most impressive results across the month of October. What makes this edition particularly interesting is the mix of established heavyweights and the newer faces who have been quietly building strong cases for themselves in the English top flight.
Fans get a say in who takes home the honour. The final result will be decided through a combination of public votes and selections from a panel of football experts, with voting closing on Monday, November 9, 2026, at 12:00 GMT. The winner is expected to be announced the following week, so the debate is very much still open.
Originally published by NotJustOk.