The Championship returns for the 2025/26 season, bringing with it all the drama, twists, and late goals we’ve come to expect.
England’s second tier remains one of the most unpredictable leagues in the world – a 46-game gauntlet where momentum can vanish overnight.
As the opening weekend showed, the formbook can go out of the window before it’s even had the chance to take shape.
Navigating its treacherous waters demands either years of hard-earned experience or exceptional tactical ingenuity in the dugout.
Emerging managerial talent
It’s long been a happy hunting ground for emerging managerial talent, with the likes of Brendan Rodgers, Nuno Espírito Santo, Thomas Frank, Enzo Maresca, and, most recently, Scott Parker’s Burnley using the division as a launchpad to Premier League football.
This year’s league boasts a fascinating mix of experienced stalwarts and international imports, making outcomes difficult to predict after just a few games.
The UK’s best betting sites are often left scratching their heads trying to determine who will emerge with all three points, and it gets even harder when the fixtures begin to pile up.
Opening day perfectly encapsulated this unpredictability, defined by late goals and dramatic finishes.
Wrexham were denied a dream start on their return to the second tier after 43 years, falling to a last-gasp 2-1 defeat at Southampton, and Stoke City turned it around late at Derby County, grabbing two injury-time goals to turn things around in a 3-1 win.
Meanwhile, newly promoted Leicester City got back to business as they hope to return to the top flight in a new era for the Foxes following their relegation.
In the Championship, a manager’s influence can be decisive; not just in setting tactics, but in managing squads through the relentless churn of the campaign.
In this article, we look at some of the figures worth watching at both ends of the table.
Will Still – Southampton
Southampton’s choice of Will Still is one of the more intriguing appointments of the summer.
The 32-year-old Belgian-born coach developed something of a cult following within the English football community for his Football Manager scouting exploits, before earning wider acclaim with Reims in Ligue 1 for his fearless approach and unconventional rise.
Indeed, during his early days in France, he famously managed the team without holding the required UEFA Pro Licence, resulting in the club being fined for each match he took charge until he completed his qualifications.
After a brief spell at RC Lens, Still has now found his way across the channel to the South Coast, where he faces the unique pressures of English football for the first time.
His Southampton side got off to the perfect start with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Wrexham, though they certainly left it late at St Mary’s; Ryan Manning and Jack Stephens scoring beyond the 90 to give the Saints all three points.
Still’s tactical flexibility and modern approach to the game could prove crucial as the Saints look to bounce back to the Premier League at the first attempt.
With parachute payments providing financial muscle, expectations are sky-high, and it will be interesting to follow his development.
Julien Stéphan – Queens Park Rangers
QPR have become the Championship’s longest-serving residents, having spent over a decade in the second tier, yet more often than not, they appear closer to a League One relegation battle than mounting any serious promotion challenge.
Following the departure of Marti Cifuentes, who had ended last season on a positive note before moving to Leicester, the west Londoners turned to Julien Stéphan as his successor.
The 44-year-old Frenchman brings an impressive pedigree from his time in Ligue 1, having delivered results for both Rennes and Strasbourg.
A promising 1-1 draw with Preston North End on opening day suggested encouraging signs, and Stéphan is ready to write a new chapter in SW12.
The likes of Karamoko Dembele and Ilias Chair form an exciting attack, but some lackluster defending at Loftus Road means the Rs could rely on their firepower this term and be the league’s entertainers.
Kieran McKenna – Ipswich Town
Of all the relegated sides from the Premier League, Ipswich Town look most ready to bounce straight back up.
Holding onto Kieran McKenna might be their best bit of business.
The Northern Irishman has already guided the Tractor Boys from League One to the Premier League in just two seasons.
With pace and trickery from Jaden Philogene on the wing, plus Chuba Akpom expected to help cover for Liam Delap’s departure, Ipswich have the tools for another serious promotion push.
Unlike Leicester, who are still dealing with points deduction uncertainty and limited funds, Ipswich have strengthened smartly while keeping their identity intact.
Their 95th-minute equaliser on opening day against Birmingham perfectly summed up McKenna’s gritty, never-say-die spirit, exactly what they will need to return at the first time of asking.
Liam Manning – Norwich City
Staying in East Anglia and making up the promotion picture will be Norwich City, who have appointed one of the most organised and tactically astute managers in English football.
Liam Manning appears destined for the Premier League, and his arrival at Carrow Road could be the catalyst the Canaries need after a disappointing 13th-place finish last season
Manning’s reputation was built on his impressive work at Bristol City, where he guided the Robins into the play-offs despite working with a squad many considered inferior to their final league position, and with the £8 million acquisition of Mathias Kvistgaarden, Norwich may have found the man to put the ball in the net and guide them back to the top flight for the first time in six years.
Despite an opening-day defeat at home to Alex Neil’s Millwall, Manning has shown he can turn possession into real chances.
If he can get the best out of this Norwich squad, the Canaries could soon be singing again and put together a real return to the Premier League.
The Championship managerial merry-go-round never stops spinning, but these five tacticians represent the cream of the crop in English football’s most unforgiving division.
Whether they’re pushing for promotion or fighting to avoid the drop, managers’ decisions and leadership will be key in a league where every point counts and nothing looks certain in 25/26.
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