There are few more fascinating leagues in world football than the English Championship. While the standard might not be that of some of the top-tier divisions around the globe, the sheer size of the stakes means that nowhere else in world football does promotion mean so much.
As has been the case in recent years, this season saw the Championship host some of English football’s most iconic clubs, including the likes of Newcastle, Leeds United, Aston Villa and Blackburn Rovers, all battling to secure a return to the big time.
With an estimated £170 million on offer for those clubs promoted to the Premier League, there are few promotion battles that mean as much as they do in the Championship.
Containing so many big clubs, featuring the sort of players you wouldn’t expect to be plying their trade outside the top flight, interest in the Championship is at an all-time high.
From the title race at the top of the table to the relegation battle at the bottom, there has been no shortage of action this year.
So, as we look back on another thrilling campaign, let’s explore some of the biggest storylines to have come out of this season.
The title race
One club expected to dominate this league at the start of the year was Newcastle United. While the club managed to earn promotion back into the Premier League at the first time of asking, the Magpies had to overcome plenty of obstacles over the season.
Having generated almost £90 million in player sales following relegation to the Championship last year, Rafael Benitez was able to spend nearly £60 million of that assembling one of the strongest squads the league has seen.
After pulling away from the majority of the division, though, Newcastle United were pushed all the way by a determined Brighton squad that cost a fraction of the price of their rivals – only securing the title on the final day.
Despite clinching the title, though, there is an argument to claim Newcastle United failed to live up to the sort of expectations, with having such a talented squad.
The same can’t be said of the other team to secure automatic promotion, Brighton. In their sixth season in English football’s second tier, and just 20 years after almost losing their league status, Brighton have been quietly putting all the pieces together needed to make the step up into the Premier League.
Under the guidance of experienced manager Chris Hughton, the south coast club looked like promotion contenders throughout the campaign. Their final-day disappointment aside, though, Brighton fully deserve to call themselves a Premier League outfit, and not many clubs will arrive in the top flight as prepared as the Seagulls are.
The playoffs
For those punters who prepared their playoff accumulator at the start of the season using tools such as the bet calculator on Oddschecker, they would have most like backed big clubs such as Aston Villa, Derby and Norwich to record a top-six finish.
However, the Championship proved once again that it is one of the most unpredictable divisions in world football. That’s never more evident than when you look at how the final few weeks have gone in the race for a play-off spot.
Having pushed for a top-two spot for much of the season, Huddersfield had to settle for a place in the playoffs, where David Wagner and his men will be hoping to guide the club back into the top tier for the first time in 45 years by winning the playoff final at Wembley Stadium.
While the Terriers’ form significantly dropped off after securing their playoff berth, the three clubs joining Huddersfield in the knockout format will do so after excellent ends to the season.
Reading have been there or thereabouts for a large part of the year and Jaap Stam’s men deserved a top-six finish after a very solid campaign.
Fulham and Sheffield Wednesday, meanwhile, both had to come to come back from the brink in the final few weeks of the season, edging out a stuttering Leeds after recording timely winning runs. With £170 million now awaiting the winner, the final unanswered question of the season is going to be a fascinating one.
Based on current form, Fulham and Sheffield Wednesday will be very confident heading into the playoffs. While both clubs looked set to miss out during stages of the final few weeks of the season, neither Reading nor Huddersfield were able to pick up the sort of winning momentum Fulham and Wednesday now have.
That said, Huddersfield have shown throughout this season that what they lack in individual talent, they more than make up for in overall team spirit – something that can be crucial in the playoffs.
And Reading, managed by former Manchester United defender Jaap Stam, might be the underdogs heading into the semi-finals but will be confident they can upset the odds.
Relegation
For two of the three clubs relegated to League One this season, the writing appeared to be on the wall very early on. Having narrowly escaped the drop in each of the last two seasons in the Championship, Rotherham United’s luck finally ran out this year.
With only five wins and eight draws to their name this season, suffering a remarkable 33 defeats, The Millers have long known they will be playing in League One next year.
While not as disappointing as Rotherham’s season, Wigan’s first year back in the Championship never really got going, with the club finishing nine points from safety and making an immediate return to League One.
The third team to suffer relegation were the champions of England 22 years ago. On the back of a disastrous six years since falling out of the Premier League, Blackburn Rovers are now facing a season of playing the likes of Port Vale and Walsall.
Despite recording a 3-1 last-day victory over Brentford – only their 12th win of the season – it wasn’t enough to stop them falling into the third tier of English football for the first time in 37 years.
Joining other big clubs such as Leeds United, Nottingham Forest, Coventry and Sheffield United, Blackburn are the latest iconic name to fall into League One, and the question is now how long they will be there for.
Winners
Brighton: It might be obvious that Brighton are one of this season’s real winners, but the impact of promotion to the south coast club won’t be underestimated by the Seagulls’ owners or fans. After reaching the Championship in 2011, the club have been making sure that when they finally do reach the Premier League, they are ready for it.
From the impressive stadium to training facilities, an experienced manager and a talented squad, Brighton may be better placed than most promoted teams to go on and establish themselves as a top-flight team.
Burton Albion: At the other end of the table, Burton Albion achieved the seemingly impossible by avoiding relegation. Following back-to-back promotions, Burton were expected to struggle to compete in such a strong division. Nigel Clough, in his second spell as manager, managed to guide the club to safety despite having the lowest budget in the league.
With a stadium capacity of just under 7,000, it remains to be seen how much further the club can realistically go, but another season in the Championship is well deserved for a club that have won over a lot of fans fascinated by Burton’s incredible journey.
Losers
Leeds United: It might be a little harsh to label Leeds United as failures this season considering they recorded their highest finish for six years. After a turbulent period under owner Massimo Cellino, who has been through seven managers during his time at Elland Road, not many expected Garry Monk to still be in charge of the club come the end of the season.
But while the former Swansea manager looked set to guide Leeds into the playoffs at the first time of asking, a dismal final month of the season saw the club drop out of contention when it seemed almost impossible for them to do so.
With Cellino set to leave this summer, there is a feeling a sense of stability could soon arrive at the club, and Monk has put in place a very solid platform for success, if given the chance.
Birmingham: There was a time this season when it seemed as though Birmingham had a real chance of challenging for promotion. Under exciting young manager Gary Rowett, the Blues climbed up to seventh in the table before the club’s owners made the shocking decision to shake things up.
Out went Rowett and in came Gianfranco Zola, who then went on to pick up just two wins from 24 matches before resigning with three games of the season remaining. While Harry Redknapp managed to pick up two crucial wins to keep Birmingham up after taking temporary charge, this will go down as a season of “what if” for the Blues.
Facing an uncertain future, Birmingham now have to try and build on their end-of-season form and finally repay their long-suffering fans.
Surprise Package
Barnsley: Another team promoted alongside Burton were Barnsley. After two seasons in League One, the Tykes are now looking back on their best league finish in 17 years. What makes Paul Heckingbottom’s achievements as manager even more impressive are the fact he lost three of his best players during the season.
After selling talented young defender Alfie Mawson last August, Barnsley also saw star striker Sam Winnall leave for Sheffield Wednesday in January before inspiration skipper Conor Hourihane was sold to Aston Villa just days later. This wasn’t enough to throw Barnsley off track, though, with the club going on to finish ninth in the table.
Best Player
Chris Wood: He might not have been able to cap off his incredible season with promotion but Chris Wood’s 27 league goals highlighted just how instrumental he was to Leeds’ campaign.
Following a slow start to the season, Wood has been the most prolific striker in the Championship, averaging better than a goal every two games. After a host of moves during the early part of his career, Wood appears to be happy and settled in West Yorkshire, flourishing as the team’s focal point.
Ending the year with 30 goals in all competitions, the question is now whether or not Leeds United can keep hold of their main man. Goalscorers are always in demand and a host of Premier League clubs are expected to test Leeds United’s resolve in the summer.
Best Young Player
Ryan Sessegnon: At just 16, Sessegnon still has a long way to go to prove he is the real deal but the early signs are extremely positive. After starring in Fulham’s youth teams, the left-back was promoted into the first team last year.
As well as proving he has a real eye for goal, scoring five times in the Championship and catching the eye in a number of performances throughout the season.
With the likes of Liverpool already linked with the teenager, Sessegnon could have a decision to make in the summer: whether to continue to learn his trade at Fulham or step up and sign for a big club – which his manager has already warned him could not go to plan.
Best Manager
Chris Hughton: One of the most likeable men in football, there aren’t many who resent Hughton’s success this season. Going about his job with dignity and class, the Brighton chief has done a fantastic job since his arrival at the club at the end of 2014.
After disappointing endings to his time with Newcastle, Birmingham and Norwich, the former Republic of Ireland defender is finally getting the praise he deserves after guiding Brighton to promotion.
Now set to be given the funds to strengthen this squad ahead of next season, Hughton is proving just how good of a manager he is.
So, with the season now all but over, focus will immediately switch to the 2017/18 campaign.
With the likes of Sunderland, Middlesbrough set to drop into the Championship from the Premier League and Sheffield United making their long-awaited return to the second flight from League One, next season will again see some of the biggest names in English football look to make it to the promised land.
The combination of quality football and incredibly high stakes will again make the Championship one of the most intriguing leagues in the world.
