Who are the Greatest Ever Championship Teams?

While the Championship may be the second tier in English football, it’s one of the most lucrative and well attended leagues in the world.

According to Transfermarkt, Championship clubs spent an impressive €271.12 million combined ahead of the 2024/25 season. This means that the Championship is the seventh-highest spending league in world football, ahead of the Liga Portugal, the Turkish Süper Lig and the Eredivisie.

What’s more, Championship clubs banked €516.48 million in transfer revenue during the same period. No global league banked more cumulatively, with clubs in England’s second tier boasting a total profit of €245.37 million.

Of course, the Championship has always been a high quality competition and featured some outstanding sides. But who are the best teams to have plied their trade in England’s second tier since the advent of the Premier League?

#1. Reading, 2005/06

Statistically speaking, Steve Coppell’s Reading side are the most successful Championship team ever. Over the course of the 2005/06 campaign, the Royals amassed a staggering 106 points, winning 31 of their 46 matches (67%) and losing just twice.

Reading scored 99 goals during the campaign too, scoring five goals or more on five separate occasions, against Millwall, Brighton, Derby and Cardiff (twice). What’s more, they only conceded 32 goals at a rate of just 0.69 per 90 minutes, resulting in a huge goal difference of +67.

Four players recorded 10 or more Championship goals for the Royals in total. Topping this list was the predatory Dave Kitson, who scored 18 times in the league and 22 in total. Kevin Doyle also notched 18 Championship goals, while the exciting Leroy Lita chipped in with 11.

Powerful midfielder Steve Sidwell also scored 10 times from midfield, supplementing the efforts of a talented and hard-running forward line.

Reading went only to make an impressive Premier League debut too in 2006/07, finishing eighth and remaining in contention for a UEFA Cup place for much of the season. However, they were relegated and returned to the Championship at the end of 2007/08.

#2. Sunderland, 1998/99

Seven years before Reading’s superb campaign, Sunderland enjoyed an almost identical season in the 1998/99 Championship. This followed heartache at the end of the previous campaign, when they lost on penalties to Charlton in the playoff final after an enthralling 4-4 draw at Wembley.

Like Reading, Sunderland also won 31 of their 46 matches, although they lost on three occasions and accumulated 105 points in total. They finished 18 points clear of Bradford City in second place, while scoring 91 goals and conceded just 27 (for a +63 goal difference).

Prolific striker Kevin Phillips led the Mackam's charge, scoring 23 goals in just 26 league appearances. Striker partner Niall Quinn notched 18 Championship goals in 36 starts, while reserve forwards Danny Dichio (10) and Michael Bridges (eight) also chipped in regularly.

Ultimately, Sunderland boasted many of the components required to make a great football team. They had a superb new stadium and impassioned fan base, for example, while their playing squad was blessed with youth, endeavour and quality throughout.

Sunderland finished seventh in their first two EPL seasons, while their initial return to the top flight saw Phillips notch 30 league goals and win the European Golden Shoe. However, they were relegated after a torrid 2002/23 season, and have yo-yoed between the top two divisions since.

#3. Newcastle United, 2009/10

Sunderland’s North East rivals Newcastle also enjoyed a superb Championship campaign in 2009/10, having been relegated from the Premier League the previous season. This had ended their 16-year stay in the top flight, but under Chris Hughton’s stewardship, they rebounded with 30 wins and 102 points in the second tier.

Unsurprisingly, they were particularly strong in front of their home fans at St James Park. Here, they went unbeaten and won 18 of their 23 matches, amassing 59 of their 102 points in the North East.

Key to Newcastle’s success was midfielder Kevin Nolan, with the former Bolton Wanderers star scoring 17 times in the Championship. This tally was matched by younger, powerful forward Andy Carroll, who also registered 19 goals in all competitions.

The Geordies also retained the services of experienced midfielder Peter Lovenkrands despite being relegated, and he responded with 13 goals in just 19 starts. The fourth player to register double figures for goals was striker Shola Ameobi, who notched 10 times in total.

All round, it was a highly successful season for a functional and well organised team. To this end, they earned a profit of £20 million in the summer and winter transfer markets, before finishing in a respectable 12th place upon their return to the EPL.