Top 25 most successful EFL Championship managers since the 2004/05 rebrand (Ranked) | OneFootball

Which managers have enjoyed the most success in the second tier in the past 21 years?

Throughout history, the Championship has provided some memorable moments at either end of the table, and credit has certainly been handed over to those in the dugout as a result.

Since the second tier's rebrand from Division One to the Championship ahead of the 2004/05 campaign, there has been a plethora of managers and head coaches who have certainly added charisma to the division from the sidelines, but perhaps not exactly got their rewards in terms of promotion or statistical data.

The current season is certainly one of the most competitive in recent memory, especially through the expansion of the play-off system, which, in turn, means that some managers will have an even greater tally of matches added to their respective records than they had envisaged if their side is successful in the promotion picture.

However, turning the clock back throughout the past 22 years, Football League World has looked at the 25 managers who, in that timeframe, have been the most successful when it comes to the number of points they have achieved on average, even if they have managed fewer games than some of their counterparts.

25 ? ? Dean Smith

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The manager last, but by no means least in this ranking is Dean Smith, who is currently in charge of MLS side, Charlotte FC.

Smith has previously overseen 190 matches at Championship level whilst in charge of Brentford, Aston Villa and Norwich City, averaging 1.51 points per game in the process.

Undoubtedly, the standout moment of his second tier spells came in 2019 when Villa defeated Derby County 2-1 in the play-off final at Wembley Stadium, just weeks after a record-breaking 10-game winning streak saw the B6 side into the top six.

24 ? ? David Wagner

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Next up is former Huddersfield Town and Norwich boss, David Wagner.

Currently the head of youth development at RB Leipzig, the 54-year-old has managed four seasons' worth of Championship fixtures during his managerial career, with an average of 1.52 points per game from 142 matches.

Wagner, of course, infamously guided Huddersfield to the Premier League in his first full season at the Accu Stadium, although he was sacked by Norwich in 2024 after a heavy loss to Leeds United in the play-off semi-finals.

23 ? ? Brian McDermott

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Brian McDermott is next on this list, with the 65-year-old seeing a spell at Leeds United sandwiched between two stints at Reading.

After initially becoming interim manager in Berkshire, McDermott was permanently installed in his role in January 2010, and after losing the play-off final to Swansea City in May 2011, guided the Royals to the Championship title in 2011/12 by accruing 89 points.

However, his time at Elland Road was much more unsettled due to circumstances in the boardroom, meaning his overall record at the level comes in at 1.54 points per game from 192 matches in the dugout.

22 ? ? Carlos Corberan

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Carlos Corberan also has an average of 1.54 points per game from two fewer Championship matches, having proven to be a huge success at Huddersfield Town and West Bromwich Albion.

The Spaniard guided the Terriers to the 2021/22 play-off final against all odds, where they were controversially defeated by Nottingham Forest, and after a matter of months with Olympiacos, he returned to the English game with the Baggies.

Corberan immediately transformed Albion's fortunes as they shot up the Championship table, and after narrowly missing out on the top six in 2022/23, finished fifth in 2023/24 before losing the play-off semi-finals to Southampton.

The 43-year-old then departed B71 in December 2024 for Valencia, but he was recently dismissed by the La Liga outfit.

21 ? ? Aitor Karanka

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Aitor Karanka is the first of six managers to average 1.55 points per game in Championship management, having taken charge of Middlesbrough, Nottingham Forest and Birmingham City.

In his first full season in the division, José Mourinho's one-time assistant took the Reds to the play-off final where they were defeated by Norwich City, only to see them achieve automatic promotion on the final day of 2015/16 in a monumental clash with Brighton.

Karanka later improved fortunes at the City Ground but quit his role in January 2019, before being unable to do the same at St. Andrew's as he only lasted nine months in charge between July 2020 and March 2021 after a run of three wins in 19 games.

20 ? ? Eddie Howe

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Eddie Howe's last game as a Championship manager saw him win the title with AFC Bournemouth in May 2015, but his overall record at the level also reads 1.55 points per game from 168 matches.

His first taste of management in the division came with Burnley between January 2011 and October 2012, before he returned to the Cherries despite not overseeing one full campaign at Turf Moor.

Bournemouth then finished 10th in the 2013/14 season after achieving promotion from League One, before securing their first-ever promotion to the Premier League 12 months later, with former England striker, Callum Wilson, playing a starring role.

19 ? ? Neil Warnock

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Neil Warnock is, arguably, the EFL's most infamous manager, with 529 of his career matches coming at Championship level post-2004 where he has also averaged 1.55 points per game.

The 77-year-old has won three promotions to the Premier League with Sheffield United, Queens Park Rangers and Cardiff City, whilst also performing great escape acts with Rotherham United and Huddersfield Town.

He has also taken charge of Crystal Palace and Middlesbrough in the second tier during said timeframe, winning 11 Manager of the Month awards in the process.

18 ? ? Roy Keane

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Roy Keane also boasts a record of 1.55 points per game as a Championship manager, having overseen matters at Sunderland and Ipswich Town.

The combative Irish midfielder began his managerial career at the Stadium of Light in August 2006, and was able to resurrect a dire start to the season for the Black Cats as they won the title by two points, before dropping back into the second tier in April 2009 at Portman Road.

However, after just one full season with the Tractor Boys, Keane was dismissed as they sat precariously above the relegation zone in January 2011.

17 ? ? Russell Martin

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Russell Martin is currently dividing opinion as Leicester City boss in League One, but from 138 games as a Championship head coach, the 40-year-old also holds an average of 1.55 points per game.

Martin's first taste of second tier management came with Swansea City between August 2021 and June 2023, having won 36 of his 99 games in South Wales before moving on to then-newly-relegated Southampton.

Saints did win the play-offs in his only full season at St Mary's, but that doesn't exactly paint the full picture of the season as plenty of pressure grew on his shoulders in the promotion race, before he was sacked months later after a dire start to life back in the top-flight.

16 ? ? Steve McClaren

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Steve McClaren has managed Nottingham Forest, Derby County and Queens Park Rangers in the Championship, and is the final figure in this ranking to have attained a total of 1.55 points per game.

The former England boss also came mightily close to earning promotion to the Premier League with the Rams in 2014, where, ironically, they were defeated by the West London side courtesy of Bobby Zamora's well-documented last-gasp winner at Wembley Stadium.

At present, the 65-year-old is Rotherham United's director of football.