The six-man shortlist is completed by Aston Villa manager Unai Emery, Eddie Howe of Newcastle United and Fulham gaffer Marco Silva.
Guardiola is on the cusp of leading Manchester City to their third straight Premier League title and fifth overall. The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss has already won the award three times in the past and could complete an unprecedented treble with victories over Manchester United and Inter Milan in the FA Cup and UEFA Champions League finals respectively.
De Zerbi has overseen Brighton’s push for an European spot after taking over from Graham Potter earlier in the season. The Seagulls are playing some delightful football at the AMEX which has seen them claim victories over the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United.
The transformation of Newcastle United under Howe has been nothing short of phenomenal. Champions League qualification looks close for a side who looked primed for relegation last season and only five defeats have been suffered in the top flight all season.
For much of the campaign Arsenal led the way but after dropping points in five of their last seven matches, the Gunners have ceded top spot to Manchester City. Nonetheless under Arteta, Arsenal have secured a top four finish for the first time since 2016/2017 with lots of progress made under their energetic Spanish manager.
From relegation candidates earlier in the campaign to European hopefuls, Aston Villa have blossomed under former Arsenal manager Emery, who replaced Steven Gerrard in October. Villa are currently in eighth position.
Silva has led Fulham to compete at the top end of the table with 51 points already bagged. The Cottagers have been the brightest of the newly promoted sides despite missing top marksman Aleksandar Mitrovic to a lengthy suspension.
