Coventry's Lampard and Boro's Hackney win at EFL Awards
Coventry City boss Frank Lampard and Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney have been named the Championship manager and player of the season at the EFL Awards. Lampard led the Sky Blues back to the Premier League after a 25-year absence in his first full season in charge. Hackney, 23, has been an influential figure in Boro's promotion bid, with five goals and eight assists, as well as being a commanding presence in the middle of the park.
Lincoln City's Michael Skubala won the League One manager of the season after guiding the Imps to the second tier for the first time in 65 years, while Leyton Orient's Dom Ballard won the division's player of the season award. Bromley boss Andy Woodman and Swindon Town striker Aaron Drinan were named manager and player of the season for League Two. The young player of the season awards in each division went to Jordan James (Leicester City), Ballard and Daniel Kanu (Walsall).
Swansea City's Josh Tymon won the EFL goal of the season for his left-footed volley into the top right-hand corner, from just outside the penalty area, against Oxford United in December. Goalkeeper Carl Rushworth is on loan at Coventry from Brighton & Hove Albion Former Chelsea and England midfielder Lampard took charge of Coventry in November 2024, with the club 17th in the Championship. He guided them to the play-offs that season, suffering a last-gasp semi-final defeat by Sunderland, but the Sky Blues have used that disappointment as fuel for this campaign, and sealed automatic promotion with a 1-1 draw at Blackburn on Friday.
Lampard beat Millwall's Alex Neil, Hull City's Sergej Jakirovic and Middlesbrough's Kim Hellberg to the manager of the season award. Four of Lampard's team were named in the Championship team of the season: goalkeeper Carl Rushworth, wing-back Milan van Ewijk, captain Matt Grimes and striker Haji Wright. Swansea's Zan Vipotnik, the Championship's leading scorer, was nominated for player of the season alongside Rushworth, but both missed out to Hackney.
EFL Championship manager of the season: Frank Lampard (Coventry City) Player of the season: Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough) Young player of the season: Jordan James (Leicester City) Apprentice of the season: Louis Page (Leicester City) Team of the Season: Carl Rushworth (Coventry City), Tristan Crama (Millwall), Callum Doyle (Wrexham), Josh Tymon (Swansea City), Milan van Ewijk (Coventry City), Matt Grimes (Coventry City), Sorba Thomas (Stoke City), Femi Azeez (Millwall), Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough), Haji Wright (Coventry City), Zan Vipotnik (Swansea City).