Award
TheScottish Football Writers' Association Manager of the Year (often called theSFWA Manager of the Year , or simply theScottish Manager of the Year ) award is given to themanager inScottish football who is seen to have been the best manager of the previous season. The award is voted for by the members of theScottish Football Writers' Association .
The award was first given in1987 , and was won byDundee United bossJim McLean . The award has been won by a manager in the top division of theScottish football league system in all but two years, 1990, when the award went toScotland managerAndy Roxburgh and 1995 when the award was given toJimmy Nicholl who managedRaith Rovers in the First Division. There is a similar award made byPFA Scotland , thePFA Scotland Manager of the Year , which was first given in2007 .
As of 2025, the award has been presented 39 times and won by 24 different managers.Walter Smith (7),Neil Lennon (3),Martin O'Neill (2),Dick Advocaat (2),Steve Clarke (2),Derek McInnes (2),Ange Postecoglou (2) andBrendan Rodgers (2) have won the award more than once. McInnes is the only manager to have won the award with more than one club.
Club Number of wins Winning seasons Celtic 14 1987–88 ,1997–98 ,2000–01 ,2001–02 ,2003–04 ,2005–06 ,2006–07 ,2011–12 ,2012–13 ,2016–17 ,2019–20 ,2021–22 ,2022–23 ,2024–25 Rangers 12 1988–89 ,1991–92 ,1992–93 ,1993–94 ,1995–96 ,1996–97 ,1998–99 ,1999–00 ,2002–03 ,2007–08 ,2009–10 ,2020–21 Kilmarnock 4 2010–11 ,2017–18 ,2018–19 ,2023–24 Aberdeen 1 2013–14 Dundee United 1 1986–87 Heart of Midlothian 1 2008–09 Hibernian 1 2004–05 Inverness Caledonian Thistle 1 2014–15 Raith Rovers 1 1994–95 Ross County 1 2015–16 Scotland national team 1 1989–90 St Johnstone 1 1990–91
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