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Middlesbrough boss Rob Edwards has been awarded the Championship Manager of the Month for August after a flawless start to 2025/26.
Middlesbrough have made a “brilliant” start under Edwards, with Boro being the only Championship side to take maximum points from the opening four league games.
Despite this, the Second Tier podcast named West Brom as the best Championship team so far this season, but Boro and Edwards took top spot.
Edwards won the Championship manager of the month award for August, which was little surprise given the calibre of start the league leaders have enjoyed under the Welshman’s tutelage thus far.
With Preston North End up next for Middlesbrough on Saturday, Edwards shared a selfless reminder after scooping the second tier prize.
Rob Edwards sends ‘important’ message to Middlesbrough fans
League leaders Middlesbrough were in fine form before the international break, and the positive feeling around the club continued throughout the international break.
£6.5m signing David Strelec starred for Slovakia against Germany and is in contention for his Middlesbrough debut at Deepdale this weekend.
Although one Championship expert has predicted a draw between Preston and Middlesbrough, the flawless form of Edwards’ side will be difficult for the Lilywhites to deal with.
The challenge is now for Edwards to ensure that Middlesbrough’s winning start, which saw him win Championship Manager of the Month for August, is not just a flash in the pan.
After winning the coveted award ahead of Baggies boss Ryan Mason, Coventry City manager Frank Lampard and his predecessor Mark Robins, Edwards shared a selfless message to the Middlesbrough faithful.
Edwards told Middlesbrough’s media: “Hi everyone, really pleased and proud to have received the Manager of the Month award.
“But look, this is recognition of everyone’s hard work. It’s a team effort. It’s no one individual, all right? So it’s really important that we all understand that.
“But we said at the very beginning, if we’re going to achieve anything, we’re going to do this together. So thank you for all the support so far.
“It’s really nice that we’ve been recognised because we’ve got some good results.
“But this is a big team effort. It’s going to take all of us to achieve something. See you all on Saturday.”
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Challenge for Rob Edwards’ Middlesbrough after winning start
Now, the onus is on Edwards and his Middlesbrough squad to prove that taking maximum points from their first four games was not a fluke.
Boro’s Saturday opponents are unbeaten in the Championship so far on home soil this term, with Edwards searching for his first win over Preston both as a manager and as a player.
Beyond the Preston clash, Boro host the Baggies who remain hot on their tails in second place under former Spurs coach Mason.
Following that, a trip to Will Still’s Southampton and a meeting with £12m summer Middlesbrough departee Finn Azaz beckons for Edwards’ squad.
Stoke will then come in quick succession, and despite the Potters flirting with relegation last season under Robins, his side have enjoyed a surprisingly stellar start to the 2025/26 season.
Positive momentum is a powerful force in football, and Edwards will need to prove that Boro can continue moving through the gears after an impressive start, rather than in their stalling post-international break run.