Michael Carrick, the caretaker head coach for Manchester United, has earned a spot on the six-man shortlist for the Premier League’s Manager of the Season award. Carrick has overseen 15 games since taking charge in January, replacing Ruben Amorim. Under his guidance, Manchester United climbed from seventh to third in the table, securing a return to the Champions League. Since his appointment on January 13, no other Premier League club has garnered more points, with United accumulating 33.

Carrick is joined on the prestigious shortlist by Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta and Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola, both of whom are currently in a fierce contest for this season’s league title. Arteta is on the verge of delivering Arsenal’s first Premier League title since 2004, a feat that could still be thwarted by Guardiola, who is a strong contender to win the Manager of the Season award for a sixth time.

Other notable nominees for the managerial accolade include departing Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola, who has steered his team to the brink of qualifying for European competition for the first time in their history. Brentford’s Keith Andrews is also recognized, having the potential to achieve European qualification in his debut season as a manager. Rounding out the shortlist is Sunderland’s Regis le Bris, under whose leadership the team has spent a significant portion of their first season back in the English top flight comfortably within the top half of the table, avoiding relegation concerns.

In addition to the managerial recognition, eight players have been nominated for the Premier League Player of the Season award. Arsenal is well represented with a trio of players: David Raya, Gabriel, and Declan Rice. Manchester City has two players on the shortlist: Antoine Semenyo and Erling Haaland. The list also features Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes, Brentford striker Igor Thiago, and Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White. The ultimate winners for both the Manager of the Season and Player of the Season awards will be determined through a combined process involving a public vote and a panel of esteemed football experts.