All 24 EFL Championship clubs' biggest club rival named by AI | OneFootball

The Championship is often home to several high-profile rivalries

One of the best - and occasionally, worst - elements of being a supporter of any football club on the planet is being able to enjoy the plethora of high-profile rivalries the sport can offer.

Whether it is yourself being a bag of nerves or excitement in the lead up to a derby match in which your side is involved in, hoping to get one over friends and, in some cases, family, depending on the result, or if you are tuning in as a neutral, the buzz and discourse which is generated from these particular encounters is a feeling hard to describe to those who may not truly understand.

The Championship, of course, is currently, and has been at the forefront of many iconic derbies and rivalries throughout recent history, with several players and/or managers writing themselves into the history books for a goal or a stand-alone moment.

Unsurprisingly, some of these fixtures are played out more than others, such is the recent and current trajectory of clubs who are known for being embroiled in bitter feuds from time to time.

It is well known by the vast majority of the footballing landscape as to which clubs and fanbase despise each other more than most, but does AI agree with such thoughts?

As such, Football League World asked ChatGPT to name each of the 24 current Championship club's biggest rivals, and here are the selections.

Birmingham City (Aston Villa)

Starting things off, ChatGPT has, unsurprisingly, named Aston Villa as the biggest rivals of Birmingham City, in what is known as the Second City derby.

The fixture is yet to have been played out since April 2019, when ex-Villa midfielder Jack Grealish was assaulted in the early exchanges at St. Andrew's before netting a 67th-minute winner.

Blues have certainly been the underdogs in this fixture throughout history, and will hope to end a recent hoodoo when the rivalry is renewed, having not defeated their B6 neighbours in a league meeting since March 2005.

Blackburn Rovers (Burnley)

Similarly, AI has also acknowledged that Blackburn Rovers make up one side of the East Lancashire derby against Burnley.

The two sides have met 106 times, although it is the Clarets who have been the most successful side in recent times despite Rovers being one of a select number of clubs to have won the Premier League.

Indeed, Burnley supporters now spend a fair portion of time reminding their rival fans that they secured the Championship title at Ewood Park in April 2023.

Bristol City (Bristol Rovers)

Once again, it is no surprise that AI has noted Bristol Rovers as being the bitter rivals of Bristol City.

This particular fixture is perhaps underrated, given it doesn't come around too often as the city rivals are currently two divisions apart, with the Gas residing in League Two this season.

In the last meeting between the two sides at Ashton Gate in the EFL Trophy in 2013, 28 arrests were made as a pitch invasion ensued.

Charlton Athletic (Millwall)

According to AI, Charlton Athletic's biggest rivals are Millwall.

This season has seen the Addicks and Lions renew rivalries for the first time in five years after Nathan Jones' men won the League One play-off final last term, although it is the latter who have won the majority of those encounters.

AI has named Leicester City as Coventry City's arch rivals, with the two sides contesting the M69 derby once again this season.

It is often a fiesty encounter between the two sides, with both winning a contest apiece during the 2023/24 campaign, as Leicester eventually secured the Championship title.

However, the shoe is very much on the other foot this season, with the Sky Blues sitting pretty in the promotion picture.

Derby County (Nottingham Forest)

AI has effectively made another correct call as Nottingham Forest are, indeed, bitter rivals of Derby County.

The Rams will be hoping to renew this East Midlands feud in the near future too, having resided below Forest in the pyramid since 2021/22 when the Reds won the Championship play-offs, whilst they were relegated to League One amid well-documented financial issues.

A standout memory for Derby fans in this fixture would certainly be Craig Bryson's hat-trick in a 5-0 rout back in 2014.

Hull City (Leeds United)

According to AI, Hull City are a club not involved in an intense rivalry as such.

Given the fact the Tigers' closest clubs, on paper, are often in lower divisions in the form of York City, Scunthorpe United and Grimsby Town, the algorithm has selected Yorkshire rivals, Leeds United, although this is only a true reflection of when the sides are in the same league as each other.

Ipswich Town (Norwich City)

Unsurprisingly, AI has selected Norwich City as Ipswich Town's most hated rivals.

The Old Farm derby, as it is known, has often been the subject of ridicule from supporters further afield, given images have previously surfaced showing a lack of segregation at Portman Road or Carrow Road.

However, ask any of the two club's supporters, and they will tell you otherwise.

Leicester City (Coventry City)

As previously stated, Leicester's bitter rivals, according to AI, are Coventry, although contests with Nottingham Forest were also referenced.

The last time the two sides met at the King Power Stadium was in September 2025, with the encounter ending in a goalless draw in front of the Sky Sports cameras.

Middlesbrough (Sunderland)

Middlesbrough's biggest rivals are Sunderland in the mind of AI.

The two North East sides are now a division apart following the Black Cats' return to the Premier League under Regis Le Bris. However, there is every chance the Teesside outfit could be facing off against their Wearside counterparts next season under Kim Hellberg.

The last meeting between the two was a dramatic 3-2 victory for Sunderland at the Riverside Stadium in February 2025, courtesy of a Ryan Giles own-goal three minutes from the end.