The 2023/24 Championship season kicks off on Friday night, with Sheffield Wednesday hosting Southampton live on Sky Sports Football at 7 p.m.; kickoff is at 8 p.m. On Sunday, there will be three games: Leicester vs. Coventry, Leeds vs. Cardiff, and Sunderland vs. Ipswich.
Who’s new in the Championship?
Three big hitters have dropped down from the Premier League, and will be among the favourites heading into the new Championship
Southampton are back after 11 years away and Leeds United after three years of top-flight football.
Then there are Leicester City, Premier League champions seven years ago, returning to the second tier for the first time in nine years.
At the other end, Plymouth Argyle were promoted as League One champions. They are back in the Championship for the first time in 13 years, having spent seven of those years in League Two.
Ipswich Town came second and return after four years away, while Sheffield Wednesday were promoted through the play-offs, returning to the second tier for the first time since 2021.
Two of our new bunch make up the first fixture on Friday night, as Sheffield Wednesday host Southampton, live on Sky Sports Football from 7pm. Kick-off 8pm.
Some big names remain… for now
The transfer window doesn’t close until the end of the month, and for now some big names remain at Southampton and look set to be in action on Friday night.
Despite intense speculation, James Ward-Prowse, Romeo Lavia, Tino Livramento, Che Adams, Nathan Tella and Kyle Walker-Peters could be among those to feature at Hillsborough.
Leicester may have lost James Maddison, Harvey Barnes and Youri Tielemans, among others, but Jamie Vardy, Kelechi Iheanacho, Timothy Castagne and Wilfried Ndidi are still a part of their squad heading into their opening game at the King Power Stadium. They host Coventry live on Sky Sports Football from 11.30am on Sunday ahead of a 12pm kick-off.
Likewise, Leeds United still have Tyler Adams, Jack Harrison and Wilfried Gnonto in their party as they prepare to host Cardiff, live on Sky Sports Football from 2pm on Sunday ahead of a 2.30pm kick-off.
It is a set to be a star-packed opening weekend of Championship football.
The new faces in charge
It wouldn’t be the Championship without some degree of managerial upheaval, and seven of the 24 clubs will have new faces in the dugout at the start of the new season.
All three relegated clubs have new managers at the helm. Southampton moved to take Russell Martin from Swansea City. He steered the Swans to mid-table finishes in the last two seasons, but impressed many observers with his possession-based style of play.
Leeds have appointed Daniel Farke, the German who has previously won this league twice with Norwich City in 2019 and 2021. Leicester, meanwhile, have put their faith in Enzo Maresca. The 43-year-old is taking on his first managerial position following on from being Pep Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City.
Elsewhere, Sheffield Wednesday parted company with Darren Moore despite promotion. Xisco Munoz, who took Watford into the Premier League in 2021, has replaced him.
Speaking of Watford… they have appointed Valerien Ismael. Who took Barnsley into the play-offs in 2021, before a less successful stint in charge of West Brom in the Championship the following season.
Swansea were forced into action after losing Martin, replacing him with Michael Duff. Who took Barnsley to the League One play-off final last season, where they lost to Sheffield Wednesday.
While Cardiff have appointed Erol Bulut, the Turkish 48-year-old who has previously manager Fenerbahce.
Can anyone else challenge the relegated sides?
Leicester, Leeds and Southampton are very much in the mix for promotion, but can anyone else challenge them for those top two spots?
Middlesbrough fell in the play-offs last season, but enjoyed an incredible run until that point under Michael Carrick. They have also held on to star striker Chuba Akpom, but will need to find replacements for Cameron Archer and Aaron Ramsey, the loan duo from Aston Villa who were so crucial to their run of form in the second half of the campaign.
Ipswich Town are also an outside bet, and could continue their momentum following last season’s promotion under Kieran McKenna. While their rivals Norwich City have been bolstering their squad with experience over the summer, adding the likes of Ashley Barnes and Shane Duffy, and will be expected to improve on last season’s mid-table disappointment.
Coventry City narrowly missed out on promotion last season, losing in the play-off final to Luton on penalties. They have lost key striker Viktor Gyokeres, while midfielder Gustavo Hamer remains linked with a move away. But you can never rule out Mark Robins and his side from defying expectation again.
While Sunderland, who made it to last season’s play-offs, will hope to continue to improve under Tony Mowbray.
What about anyone else? Well, this is the Championship. So anything can happen.
Any other big signings?
There is plenty of excitement at Cardiff City following the return of Aaron Ramsey. The former Arsenal and Juventus midfielder, and Wales legend, returns to his boyhood club 15 years after leaving them to join the Gunners. Although he did have a brief loan spell there in 2010/11.
Another Welsh international has been on the move, with Ethan Ampadu finally leaving Chelsea to join Leeds. Remarkably, he is still just 22, but has found a permanent home after four consecutive loan spells.
Some big names remain… for now
The transfer window doesn’t close until the end of the month, and for now some big names remain at Southampton and look set to be in action on Friday night.
Despite intense speculation, James Ward-Prowse, Romeo Lavia, Tino Livramento, Che Adams, Nathan Tella and Kyle Walker-Peters could be among those to feature at Hillsborough.
Leicester may have lost James Maddison, Harvey Barnes and Youri Tielemans, among others, but Jamie Vardy, Kelechi Iheanacho, Timothy Castagne and Wilfried Ndidi are still a part of their squad heading into their opening game at the King Power Stadium. They host Coventry live on Sky Sports Football from 11.30am on Sunday ahead of a 12pm kick-off.
Likewise, Leeds United still have Tyler Adams, Jack Harrison and Wilfried Gnonto in their party as they prepare to host Cardiff, live on Sky Sports Football from 2pm on Sunday ahead of a 2.30pm kick-off.
It is a set to be a star-packed opening weekend of Championship football.
The new faces in charge
It wouldn’t be the Championship without some degree of managerial upheaval, and seven of the 24 clubs will have new faces in the dugout at the start of the new season.
All three relegated clubs have new managers at the helm. Southampton moved to take Russell Martin from Swansea City. He steered the Swans to mid-table finishes in the last two seasons, but impressed many observers with his possession-based style of play.
Leeds have appointed Daniel Farke, the German who has previously won this league twice with Norwich City in 2019 and 2021. Leicester, meanwhile, have put their faith in Enzo Maresca. The 43-year-old is taking on his first managerial position following on from being Pep Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City.
Elsewhere, Sheffield Wednesday parted company with Darren Moore despite promotion. Xisco Munoz, who took Watford into the Premier League in 2021, has replaced him.
Speaking of Watford… they have appointed Valerien Ismael. Who took Barnsley into the play-offs in 2021, before a less successful stint in charge of West Brom in the Championship the following season.
Swansea were forced into action after losing Martin, replacing him with Michael Duff. Who took Barnsley to the League One play-off final last season, where they lost to Sheffield Wednesday.
While Cardiff have appointed Erol Bulut, the Turkish 48-year-old who has previously manager Fenerbahce.
Can anyone else challenge the relegated sides?
Leicester, Leeds and Southampton are very much in the mix for promotion, but can anyone else challenge them for those top two spots?
Middlesbrough fell in the play-offs last season, but enjoyed an incredible run until that point under Michael Carrick. They have also held on to star striker Chuba Akpom, but will need to find replacements for Cameron Archer and Aaron Ramsey, the loan duo from Aston Villa who were so crucial to their run of form in the second half of the campaign.
Ipswich Town are also an outside bet, and could continue their momentum following last season’s promotion under Kieran McKenna. While their rivals Norwich City have been bolstering their squad with experience over the summer, adding the likes of Ashley Barnes and Shane Duffy, and will be expected to improve on last season’s mid-table disappointment.
Coventry City narrowly missed out on promotion last season, losing in the play-off final to Luton on penalties. They have lost key striker Viktor Gyokeres, while midfielder Gustavo Hamer remains linked with a move away. But you can never rule out Mark Robins and his side from defying expectation again.
While Sunderland, who made it to last season’s play-offs, will hope to continue to improve under Tony Mowbray.
What about anyone else? Well, this is the Championship. So anything can happen.
Any other big signings?
There is plenty of excitement at Cardiff City following the return of Aaron Ramsey. The former Arsenal and Juventus midfielder, and Wales legend, returns to his boyhood club 15 years after leaving them to join the Gunners. Although he did have a brief loan spell there in 2010/11.
Another Welsh international has been on the move, with Ethan Ampadu finally leaving Chelsea to join Leeds. Remarkably, he is still just 22, but has found a permanent home after four consecutive loan spells.
