As the Championship season draws to a close, with the player of the season and manager of the season nominees being announced, now is the time to start drawing up a Championship team of the season. I will do a full 11 and manager with two honourable mentions for each position and then compare to the official Championship team of the season so without further ado, Let’s get into it!
Goalkeeper – Michael Cooper
He has been outstanding in every game for Sheffield United, making crucial saves like his penalty save vs Sunderland and multiple game-winning save in games like Sheffield Wednesday away, Luton away and Derby away. Watching Cooper week in and week out is a real pleasure being that safety behind a sometimes-shaky backline has won us multiple points and games. Cooper is a key reason for United’s promotion push and even if we miss promotion, he can still hold his head high.
Key stats:
2.5 saves per game
4.93 goals prevented
0.8 conceded per game
19 clean sheets
Honourable mentions:
- James Trafford
- Viktor Johansson
They are both brilliant shot-stoppers, and realistically, it could have been any of the three. There are some excellent goalkeepers in the Championship this year.
Right-back – Jayden Bogle
As much as I hate to admit it, Jayden Bogle has been the best right back in the Championship this season. He is a real attacking threat that my team, Sheffield United, let go of for only £6,000,000. He excels in attack, bombing down the right-hand side for promotion-winning Leeds United. It has surprised me how integral he has been for the Whites, especially with his struggles defensively at the start of the season.
Key stats:
10 g/a
9 big chances created
1.0 successful dribbles per game
2.3 tackles per game
Honourable mentions:
1. Trai Hume
2. Kaine Kesler- Hayden
The debate for Right back in the Championship team of the season has been popular recently, Bogle vs Hume, while I lean for Jayden Bogle, Trai Hume has also been very impressive this season. And a lesser-known shout, Kaine Kesler-Hayden. The Preston right-back is very underrated and should be involved in the right-back debate.
Right Centre Back – CJ Egan – Riley
A key part in the best defence in the league, he was very impressive when I watched Burnley at Bramall Lane this season, his range of passing was absurd, and my first thought was that I would love him in any team. While his passing was very impressive, his defensive ability is a key reason why Burnley have succeeded this season, making crucial tackles at the right moment. While not being the tallest, the former Manchester City and PSV centre-back makes up for this with his athleticism and game IQ, knowing when to either press the man or back off.
Key stats:
60.2 accurate passes per game
5.0 accurate long balls per game
1.5 tackles per game
Honourable mentions:
- Anel Ahmedhodži
- Joe Rodon
Both are consistent week in and week out in two of the best-performing teams at the top of the Championship, even though they are some of the best-performing defenders in their respective teams, I do feel both Anel and Rodon are underrated by their team’s fans. Harry Souttar has slightly overshadowed Anel this season but I think he has been incredible most weeks when I watch United.
Left centre back – Maxime Esteve
What a player this man is, one of the best centre-backs the championship has ever seen. He won every through ball at Turf Moor against United meaning the clearest could clinch promotion last Monday. I do not think he will struggle in the Premier League at all, unlike the last time Burnley were in the Premier League with him being an all-round modern-day centre-back. Fast, strong, tall, aerially dominant, excellent in tackles and good on the ball. One of the first names I wanted in this team of the season.
Key stats:
60.1 accurate passes per game
1.1 tackles per game
2.0 aerial duels won per game
Honourable mentions:
- Pascal Struijk
- Torbjørn Heggem
Another two all-rounded left-footed centre-backs and although Esteve was by far my winner for left Centre back, both Struijk and Heggem have been superb when playing for Leeds and West Brom, respectively.
Left Back – Harrison Burrows
One of my favourite players in the league, the attacking left-back has impressed me all season, coming from League One, Burrows has been outstanding for the Blades all season impressing with set pieces, crossing, Link-up play and perfectly crafted attacking runs. I do think Burrows could improve defensively since this has been a key weakness in recent weeks. A shift of system would push Burrows to that next level preferably a back 5 with him becoming a left wing-back given attacking freedom.
Key stats:
8 g/a
1.2 shots per game
10 big chances created
1.2 key passes per game
1.9 tackles per game
Honourable mentions:
- Junior Firpo
- Callum Doyle
More brilliant left-backs with Firpo being an attacking threat and Doyle being excellent all around, many will call for Firpo as the left-back and I completely understand that with Firpo like his full-back partner Bogle a key part of this Leeds team. Doyle has been outstanding for Norwich and will surely be playing regularly whether that be in the premier league or the Championship again.
Right defensive midfielder – Gustavo Hamer
The Championship player of the season. Although not the position Gus has played this season on paper, I do feel this is his natural position, therefore he gets the right defensive midfielder position in my team. Hamer is the key to everything we do whether that be quick linkups with players like Burrows and Peck or single handily driving us forward putting through balls into the striker. Even playing as a left winger he does drop in to help defensively and in certain scenarios helping out in the centre. Without Hamer, I’m not sure how we would be performing this season considering his overall performance and importance.
Key stats:
16 g/a
2.2 shots per game
11 big chances created
1.8 key passes per game
2.1 accurate long balls per game
1.1 successful dribbles per game
Honourable mentions:
- Vinicius Souza
- Jason Knight
2 more ‘proper’ defensive midfielders and both are instrumental to their side’s playoff push. Souza is a real destroyer making lots and lots of tackles, 3.1 per game to be exact, being a proper anchor in front of the defence. He has missed a good chunk of the season out with injury therefore I haven’t included him in my team but he was a real contender. The same can be said for Bristol City’s Jason Knight, another very close to being in the team. Slightly more technical than Souza, Knight excels in passing alongside his midfield partner Max Bird who we might see later in this team. I recently saw a stat stating Knight had the most ball recoveries in every league which is incredible for the former derby man.
Left defensive midfielder – Ao Tanaka
What a signing this man has been for Leeds! For just 3.4 million pounds, Tanaka has proven to be an asset for the club. He has received many accolades from fans across all 92 clubs, which highlights how impressive his performances have been throughout the entire season. The Japanese 26-year-old has produced some particularly important goals for Leeds pushing them for promotion like his goals against Sheffield United and Millwall. Tanaka is a real workhorse but still dictates play at his pace meaning Leeds can dominate possession of the game.
Key stats:
90% pass accuracy per game
2.2 tackles per game
1.3 interceptions per game
4.5 duels won per game
Honourable mentions:
- Max Bird
- Ebou Adams
I said Bird would be mentioned later and him vs Tanaka was the closest call in the team so far. I like Max Bird, good on the ball, passing is exceptional and creates lots of big chances, 11 to be exact. Adams is another player I like the look of a proper disruptor like Souza but has also scored 7 goals so far this season which could mean Derby stays in the Championship for another season. 3.5 tackles per game the most in the league an excellent ball winner.
Central attacking midfielder – Josh Brownhill
Very harsh on him to miss out in the official team of the season, slightly underrated by many Championship fans and Burnley fans even considering his 22 g/this season. He was exceptional when I saw Burnley at Turf Moor and Bramall Lane getting 3 goals over the 2 games. With Burnley being promoted I do believe Brownhill can make that step up after some experience in the Premier League but some websites suggest Brownhill’s contract is expiring and would be an excellent option for any lower Prem sides or higher Championship sides.
Key stats:
22 g/a
1.5 shots per game
7 big chances created
31.5 acc passes per game (81 %)
1.1 key passes per game
1.5 tackles per game
Honourable mentions:
- Jack Rudoni
- Finn Azaz
Rudoni and Azaz 2 other of the best-attacking midfielders with them having a combined 42 g/a which is mental for non-automatic promotion challengers. It’s very harsh for me to miss both out but to be honest, when watching both players at Bramall Lane and their respective home grounds they didn’t stand out to me like Brownhill and a lot of other players have done.
Right Winger – Dan James
Dan James has usually just been named as speedboat no-driver but this season has been quite the opposite with James now having 21 g/a being a key factor in Leeds leading the league. James was another player who impressed me at Bramall Lane he was an absolute nightmare for Harrison Burrows with his pace and crosses and ended up getting 2 assists with Leeds winning 3-1.
Key stats
12 goals
9 assists
2.8 shots per game
16 big chances created
1.2 key passes per game
Honourable mentions:
- Tom Fellows
- Ben Doak
Doak was on course to be potentially in the team of the season and young player of the season but has not played since the 25th of January meaning he could only be an honourable mention, even with his 7 assists and 3 goals. Fellows on the other hand has played most of the season being an absolute assist machine throughout but I still feel Dan James is undoubtedly more deserving of the right-wing spot in my team.
Left-wing: Josh Murphy
Undoubtedly the best attacking player I have seen live this season, even if he was playing for Portsmouth, I recently saw a post about how long it would take you to realise Jacob Murphy was Josh Murphy or Josh Murphy was Jacob Murphy and to be honest I don’t think you would notice that is how good he has been this season. The 30-year-old has especially impressed in the second half of the season getting 10 assists in 2025 alone.
Key Stats:
7 goals
12 assists
2.6 shots per game
21 big chances created
1.3 key passes per game
1.4 successful dribbles per game
Honourable mentions:
- Borja Sainz
- Manor Solomon
Many people will have Sainz in their team of the season including the ‘official’ Championship team of the season and I understand why, Sainz had been excellent this season being by far the top scorer of the league for most of the season. Solomon is another player with incredible stats including 9 goals and 12 assists stating a real claim regarding Murphy’s statistics but I think Murphy is very much one of the first players I thought had to go in the team of the season.
Striker: Joel Piroe
26 goals and assists was a truly exceptional season for Piroe, firing Leeds back up, while Piroe is a striker he is exceptional in build-up play with through balls and exceptional passes, like we saw against Bristol City last Monday. And we saw him being in the right place at the right time a key attribute in any striker when we saw him score 4 to secure Leeds’ promotion against stoke. Very harsh on him from the EFL for him not to be in the official team of the season.
Key stats:
19 Goals
7 assists
2.2 shots per game
8 big chances created
Honourable mentions:
- Josh Sargent
- Tyrese Campbell
Sargent vs Piroe was definitely the hardest choice of the team and on another day I could of easily chosen Sargent like the EFL did in their team. Campbell has impressed me a lot this season, to be honest I thought he would be a very disappointing signing for us but I have been completely wrong he’s had an excellent season but hasn’t had the stats similar to Sargent and Piroe.
Manager: Liam Manning
An outstanding season for Bristol City, Manning has led the Robins into the playoffs and I believe they can go all the way and potentially win the playoffs. Manning has done an outstanding job considering Bristol City have been a mid table team for the past 9 years.
Honourable mentions:
- Scott Parker
- Chris Wilder
Considering how brutal last season was for both teams, Parker and Wilder have done a great job keeping mentality up and not having a similar season to what has happened to Luton. Burnley have secured promotion thanks to Parker, while his football may not have been pleasant he has got the job done and the same can be said for Wilder if United manage to succeed in their playoff campaign.
Thank you for reading my Championship team of the season, I would love to see how it compares to what you would have picked. Feel free to comment yours.
