Jose Mourinho, Diego Simeone and Pellegrino Matarazzo Named in LaLiga Manager of the Month Final Three for October

LaLiga has announced the Manager of the Month final three for October, and the list brings together three coaches with very different styles and very similar results. Jose Mourinho of Real Madrid, Diego Simeone of Atletico Madrid and Pellegrino Matarazzo of Real Sociedad are the final three nominees. All three managers recorded a perfect win rate in October, with three wins from three league matches. The league press office confirmed the final list, and the winner will be decided through a combined vote of supporters on the official league platform and an independent panel of football experts. The result will be announced within a few days, and the contest is expected to be close because each coach can point to a distinct strength from the month. Mourinho brings control and big match wins, Simeone brings defensive strength and narrow wins, and Matarazzo brings open attacking football and goals.

Mourinho rebuilds Real Madrid momentum in October

Mourinho recorded three wins from three matches in October, with a goal difference of seven goals scored and two goals conceded. The experienced Portuguese coach kept Real Madrid at a stable and productive pace during a month that included the biggest match of the season so far. Real Madrid won 2-1 at Barcelona in El Clasico, with Kylian Mbappe scoring twice at the Spotify Camp Nou. The win cut the gap to leaders Barcelona to three points and pulled Real Madrid firmly back into the title race. Real Madrid also won 4-1 against Sevilla earlier in October, with Mbappe again scoring twice, and the run gave the team three straight league wins. Mourinho has reshaped Real Madrid around a clear plan, with Federico Valverde used in a defensive role, Arda Guler given a central creative role, and Mbappe leading the attack. The October results show that the plan is working, and the Clasico win in particular will carry weight with voters because it came away from home against the league leaders. Mourinho now stands as a strong contender for the monthly prize, and a win would confirm October as the month when Real Madrid turned a difficult start into a genuine title challenge.

Simeone keeps Atletico Madrid tight and ruthless

Simeone recorded three wins from three matches in October, with a goal difference of four goals scored and one goal conceded. The Argentine coach secured the maximum nine points through his signature defensive strength and pragmatic tactics. Atletico Madrid have conceded only eight goals in 10 league matches, a record bettered only by Celta Vigo, and they have won their last three league games by one goal. The October run included a 2-1 win at Alaves, a 1-0 win at Espanyol and a 1-0 win against Deportivo. Each win followed a similar pattern: a tight first half, a decisive moment from a key attacker, and a disciplined defensive finish. Julian Alvarez has led the attack, with support from Antoine Griezmann, Alex Baena and Ademola Lookman, while Jan Oblak has provided calm command behind the defence. Atletico Madrid now sit second in LaLiga with 25 points, only two points behind Barcelona, and Simeone has a genuine chance to take his team to the top of the table if results go the right way in the next round. The Simeone case for the award rests on control. Atletico Madrid did not blow teams away in October, but they did not give points away either, and in a title race that level of control can be decisive.

Matarazzo turns Real Sociedad into the highest scorers of the month

Matarazzo recorded three wins from three matches in October, with a goal difference of 10 goals scored and five goals conceded. Real Sociedad became the highest scoring club among the three nominees, and the San Sebastian team played open and attacking football throughout the month. The run included a 2-1 win over Levante at the Reale Arena, a 5-2 win away at Malaga, and a strong run of form that has now stretched to four straight league wins. Goncalo Guedes has been central to the attacking play, with Luka Sucic, Mikel Oyarzabal and Orri Oskarsson also contributing goals and assists. Matarazzo has built a side that presses high, moves the ball quickly through midfield, and creates chances from wide areas as well as through the centre. The defensive record is less tight than the records of Mourinho and Simeone, with five goals conceded, but the attacking return more than compensated during October. Real Sociedad have climbed into the European places, and the Matarazzo nomination shows that the league has noticed a team playing with confidence and ambition. For supporters who value attacking football, the Matarazzo case is the most attractive of the three.

How the winner is decided and why the vote is close

The Manager of the Month winner is decided through a combined system. Supporters vote on the official league platform, and an independent panel of football experts also gives a verdict. The combined result decides the winner, and the announcement follows within a few days of the end of the list. The system means that reputation alone does not decide the prize, and a coach with a smaller profile can win if the results and the performances support the case. That point matters for Matarazzo, who faces two of the most famous managers in world football in Mourinho and Simeone. Mourinho has the biggest single result of the month in the Clasico win, Simeone has the tightest defensive record, and Matarazzo has the most goals and the most open football. Each coach also faces a different test in the next round of matches. Mourinho takes Real Madrid to Racing Santander, Simeone takes Atletico Madrid to Levante with a chance to go top of the table, and Matarazzo takes Real Sociedad to Athletic Club in the Basque derby at San Mames. Those matches will not change the October vote, but they will shape the November race and the next monthly shortlist. For now, the October vote is a genuine three way contest, and the final result will say something about what LaLiga values most: big match wins, defensive control, or attacking goals.

What each nomination says about the October title race

The three nominations also tell the story of the October title race. Barcelona still lead the table with 27 points, but the three nominated coaches all closed the gap or climbed the table during the month. Real Madrid moved to 24 points, Atletico Madrid moved to 25 points, and Real Sociedad moved into the European places with a run of wins. The October table therefore reflects coaching impact as much as player form. Mourinho found a winning formula after a mixed start, Simeone kept Atletico Madrid steady through tight games, and Matarazzo turned Real Sociedad into an attacking force. The next monthly award will depend on whether any of the three coaches can repeat a perfect month, or whether Hansi Flick of Barcelona or another coach responds with a run of wins. The October final three show that LaLiga coaching depth runs well beyond the top two clubs, and that a well organised team with a clear plan can challenge the biggest names in the league.

Manager	Club	October record	Goal difference
Jose Mourinho	Real Madrid	3 wins from 3 matches	7 scored, 2 conceded
Diego Simeone	Atletico Madrid	3 wins from 3 matches	4 scored, 1 conceded
Pellegrino Matarazzo	Real Sociedad	3 wins from 3 matches	10 scored, 5 conceded

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