Frank Lampard Misses Out as Tonda Eckert Wins Manager of the Month — A Shift for Southampton and Their Rivals

In a dressing room still buzzing from a remarkable comeback and a five-goal rout, frank lampard’s name sits on the list of nominees while Tonda Eckert holds the month’s prize. Eckert was named Sky Bet Championship Manager of the Month for February after Southampton went unbeaten with four wins and a draw from five league fixtures.

Tonda Eckert’s month: what the award reflects

Eckert’s recognition came after a stretch that pushed Saints toward play-off contention. The team collected 13 points and scored 14 goals in the month, a sequence that stretched to an 11-game run in all competitions. Highlights included Cyle Larin’s debut goal against Watford, a club-first recovery from three goals down to beat Leicester, a 5-0 victory over QPR and a 3-1 win at Sheffield Wednesday.

“Of course it is nice to be recognised for such a strong month, but this is not just an award for myself but for the whole club. As a staff we are a team, and everybody needs to perform, on and off the pitch, for us to win games consistently in the Championship. We hope this is just the start of a very positive end to our season – it is up to us to continue on this path. We are still far away from where we want to be, ” Eckert said after receiving the honour.

The award marked a milestone for the club: Eckert became the first Saints boss to win Manager of the Month since Ralph Hasenhüttl in July 2020. It also underlined a rapid rise under his stewardship — Eckert had been in interim charge earlier and was appointed permanent head coach in December after Will Still’s departure from the role.

Frank Lampard among the field: what the nomination signals

frank lampard was one of the managers shortlisted for the monthly prize, alongside Philippe Clement of Norwich and Alex Neil of Millwall. The nomination places Lampard in the conversation for moments of progress and resilience shown across the division during February.

For Coventry, whose form drew enough attention to see their manager nominated, the recognition points to competitive performances even when the ultimate monthly award went elsewhere. The shortlists reflected a crowded field of managers producing strong, but differing, mid-season runs.

Player awards, context and what comes next

The player accolade for February went to Millwall’s Femi Azeez, who was acknowledged after helping his side to four wins in five games. Azeez made five goal contributions in the month and opened one match with a superb volley against Birmingham. Saints midfielder Leo Scienza was also nominated for Player of the Month.

Eckert’s Saints return home after four consecutive away fixtures with a match against Norwich on Wednesday 18th March. The club announced that previously purchased tickets for the original date remain valid. The manager’s message — that the award is a staff achievement and a spur to continue — framed the mood around St Mary’s as the run of form continues to shape the club’s season.

Voices in the mix and a forward look

Alongside Eckert’s own words, the month’s awards highlighted the contributions of players and managers across the Championship. Names on the shortlist and in player contention — including Frank Lampard, Philippe Clement, Alex Neil, Leo Scienza and Femi Azeez — mapped a league where small runs can change trajectories. Eckert’s tally of wins underlined that steady improvement can lift a team from danger into contention; his record since taking permanent charge was part of the rationale for the prize.

What remains uncertain is whether this unbeaten spell will translate into sustained success through the season’s closing stages. For Saints, the immediate task is to maintain momentum at home and convert the recognition into points. For those managers nominated, including frank lampard, the nomination is both validation and a prompt to press on.

Back in the narrow tunnel where the team trickled out after the 5-0 win over QPR, the scene feels different than it did months earlier: the players walk with the confidence of recent success, Eckert’s words still in the air, and rivals who were once ahead now looking on. The award is a moment of celebration, but for a club and its supporters it is also a reminder that the season’s story is still being written.