Championship Manager of the Month: Early Contenders

The Championship has its first managerial shortlist of the season – and it’s a strong one.

Charlton Athletic’s Nathan Jones, Swansea City’s Vitor Matos, Wolves head coach Cesar Peixoto and QPR’s Julien Stephan have all been nominated for August’s Manager of the Month award after sharp, assured starts to the campaign.

Nathan Jones - Charlton Athletic

Jones has wasted no time stamping his authority on Charlton. Three games, three wins, and top of the table by the end of August. It’s the kind of perfect opening that instantly changes the mood around a club and sets standards in the dressing room.

Vitor Matos - Swansea City

At Swansea, Matos has made an immediate impact of his own. Seven points from a possible nine, still unbeaten, and crucially, victories over Stoke City and Derby County. Those are the sort of results that steady a new regime and hint at a side that could grow into the season.

Cesar Peixoto - Wolves

Peixoto has walked into a demanding brief at Wolves: get back to the Premier League. His first steps have been promising. Like Swansea, Wolves collected seven points from their opening three fixtures, a solid launch for a club trying to shake off the disappointment of last term and drive straight back up.

Julien Stephan - QPR

Then there is Stephan at QPR, quietly putting together an eye-catching month. Rangers went through August unbeaten, with statement away wins at Portsmouth and Blackburn Rovers. Trips like those can quickly derail a team; instead, QPR used them to build belief.

Four managers, four different stories, one early-season benchmark.

The winner of the first Championship Manager of the Month award of the season will be announced on Friday, 11 September – and whoever takes it will carry more than just a trophy into the autumn: they’ll carry momentum.