Championship 2025/26 mixes tradition, new beginnings and ambition

The Championship, the English second division, will kick off this Friday (8), with a combination of tradition, new beginnings after a year to forget and projects. The competition reserves the initial favoritism of the recently relegated teams from the Premier League and the ambition of the projects of the newly promoted teams from the third division, famous investors.

Birmingham City, the team managed by iconic former American football player Tom Brady, and Wrexham, owned by actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. Both teams lead the latest League One season, with the Blues coming out on top and being crowned champions, while the Welsh team finished runner-up.

The duo is aiming to achieve two consecutive promotions in two seasons, a rare feat achieved by few teams. This includes Ipswich Town in the 2023/2024 season and Southampton in the 2011/2012 season.

To achieve this feat, both teams have invested heavily in the transfer market. Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney's Wrexham have so far spent £12.80 million on ten different signings. Most of the arrivals came from the English market, with highlights including defender Conor Coady, who has been called up to the England national team in recent months, left-back Liberato Cacace, who was at Empoli in Italy, and midfielder Lewis O'Brien, formerly of Nottingham Forest.

Birmingham City, on the other hand, spent slightly more on 13 signings, but varied the profile slightly. Besides focusing on the English market and players with Championship experience, the Blues also sought players with experience in other leagues. Such as striker Kyogo Furuhashi, who had a standout spell at Celtic; fellow striker Marvin Ducksch, a standout player for Werder Bremen in recent seasons; and right-back Bright Osayu Samuel, formerly of Fenerbahce.

To achieve the feat of two consecutive promotions, the two teams will challenge the three teams that were relegated from the Premier League: Southampton, Ipswich Town, and Leicester City. The English second division has been dominated by teams that were relegated in previous years, with only two teams gaining promotion to the English top flight in the last three years.

Leicester bets its chips on Spanish

One of the favorites for the title is Leicester City, one of the teams relegated from the last Premier League, and who are seeking their ninth Championship title. The Foxes have won the competition the most times, with eight titles.

To achieve this, the team is maintaining the same core of recent seasons and making few changes. So far, only experienced goalkeeper Begovic has joined the club, but the biggest change is on the touchline with the arrival of Spanish coach Martí Cifuentes.

The 43-year-old coach built his career in the lower divisions of Spanish football in Scandinavia. Cifuentes took over Queens Park Rangers in 2023 and, with little investment, managed to keep the team in the Championship for the last two seasons, but left the club by mutual consent after the end of last season.

Saints opt for French Championship sensation

On the south coast, Southampton also opted for a change in management with the arrival of Will Still, an Anglo-Belgian coach who recently excelled in French football. Despite the change in management, Still maintained the core of last season's squad, with a few one-off signings and the return of some loan players.

As a result, the Saints boast an experienced squad in the competition, bolstered by promising youngsters who excelled last season. Among the key players are midfielder Mateus Fernandes and winger Tyler Dibling. The squad also features Brazilian players, including former São Paulo players Wellington and Juan.

Ipswich opts for continuity

Unlike the other two relegated clubs, Ipswich Town opted to retain manager Kieran McKenna, who led the team back to the Premier League. The Tractor Boys also retained the core of last season's squad, making only one-off signings.

The attacking sector remains strong, with midfielder Omari Hutchinson remaining as the standout player from last season. The team also has forwards Sammie Szmodics and Jaden Philogene, who also excelled last year.

In defense, in addition to having team standouts such as Leif Davies and Jacob Greaves, the club has gained an experienced reinforcement: full-back Ashley Young, formerly of Manchester United and Everton, who brings experience and leadership to the squad.

Who runs on the outside?

After losing the last playoff final in the dying moments, Sheffield United is one of the teams on the outside looking in for a spot in next year's Premier League. To that end, the Blades retained much of last year's squad, with a few key additions, such as the arrival of striker Louie Barry on loan from Aston Villa.

The big change is on the pitch: Chris Wilder's dismissal is being made possible by the arrival of Spaniard Rubén Sellés, who is coming off two notable stints managing Hull City and Reading. Brazilian midfielder Vinicius Souza, who came through the ranks at Flamengo , has left the club to sign with Wolfsburg after his standout performance last season.

Another outsider is Coventry City, led by Frank Lampard. The Sky Blues enjoyed a comeback last season, largely due to the arrival of the former Chelsea manager, who took over the team after the dismissal of Mark Robins, a fan-favorite. The former midfielder took over and led the team to the playoffs, but was ultimately eliminated by Sunderland in the semifinals.

Lampard's side has made few changes to its squad so far this summer. The team has made just three signings, the most notable of which is left-back Kaine Kesler, who arrived from Aston Villa.

This Friday (8), Birmingham City will host Ipswich Town at St Andrew's Stadium at 4 pm (Brasília time), a match that will kick off the competition. The first round continues over the weekend.