The Scottish Football Writers' Association Manager of the Year (often called the SFWA Manager of the Year, or simply the Scottish Manager of the Year) award is given to the manager in Scottish football who is seen to have been the best manager of the previous season. The award is voted for by the members of the Scottish Football Writers' Association.
The award was first given in 1987, and was won by Dundee United boss Jim McLean. The award has been won by a manager in the top division of the Scottish football league system in all but two years, 1990, when the award went to Scotland manager Andy Roxburgh and 1995 when the award was given to Jimmy Nicholl who managed Raith Rovers in the First Division. There is a similar award made by PFA Scotland, the PFA Scotland Manager of the Year, which was first given in 2007. __FORCETOC__ List of winners As of 2026, the award has been presented 40 times and won by 24 different managers. Walter Smith (7), Neil Lennon (3), Derek McInnes (3), Martin O'Neill (2), Dick Advocaat (2), Steve Clarke (2), Ange Postecoglou (2) and Brendan Rodgers (2) have won the award more than once. McInnes is the only manager to have won the award with more than one club.
SeasonManagerClubNotesRef 1986–87 Dundee United 1987–88 Celtic 1988–89 Rangers 1989–90 Scotland 1990–91 St Johnstone 1991–92 Rangers 1992–93 (2) Rangers 1993–94 (3) Rangers 1994–95 Raith Rovers 1995–96 (4) Rangers 1996–97 (5) Rangers 1997–98 Celtic 1998–99 Rangers 1999–00 (2) Rangers 2000–01 Celtic 2001–02 Partick Thistle 2002–03 Rangers 2003–04 (2) Celtic 2004–05 Hibernian 2005–06 Celtic 2006–07 Celtic Also won the PFA Scotland award 2007–08 (6) Rangers 2008–09 Heart of Midlothian 2009–10 (7) Rangers Also won the PFA Scotland award 2010–11 Kilmarnock 2011–12 Celtic 2012–13 (2) Celtic 2013–14 Aberdeen Also won the PFA Scotland award 2014–15 Inverness Caledonian Thistle Also won the PFA Scotland award 2015–16 Ross County 2016–17 Celtic Also won the PFA Scotland award 2017–18 Kilmarnock 2018–19 (2) Kilmarnock Also won the PFA Scotland award 2019–20 (3)Celtic2020–21Rangers Also won the PFA Scotland award 2021–22Celtic Also won the PFA Scotland award 2022–23 (2)Celtic Also won the PFA Scotland award 2023–24 (2) Kilmarnock 2024–25 (2) Celtic 2025–26 (3) Heart of Midlothian Also won the PFA Scotland award
Winners by club ClubNumber of winsWinning seasonsCeltic 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 Heart of Midlothian 2 2008–09, 2025–26 Aberdeen 1 2013–14 Dundee United 1 1986–87 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
See also SFWA Footballer of the Year SFWA International Player of the Year SFWA Young Player of the Year
References