The 8 biggest sleeping giants in the EFL Championship right now named and ranked by AI | OneFootball

FLW lists the eight biggest sleeping giants in the second-tier, as per the opinion of AI.

The EFL Championship has its fair share of sleeping giants.

Whether it be on, off-the-field issues, or a bit of both, a number of massive clubs have dropped from the Premier League and failed to make it back as originally expected.

This has left them in the core of many teams battling and scraping to get up towards the top end of the division, but it is getting increasingly tougher to get back up due to the strength of squads and financial resources teams have now after coming down from the top-flight.

With this in mind, FLW asked AI who it thinks are the biggest sleeping giants in the Championship, with the top eight being named.

8 Charlton Athletic

Charlton Athletic come in at number eight, somewhat of a shock inclusion given their major trophy success came back in 1947 when they tasted FA Cup glory.

The Addicks were founded just shy of two centuries after the Football League was formed, entering the English pyramid in 1905.

As per the opinion of AI, Charlton are viewed as a sleeping giant for their previous Premier League pedigree, undergoing a seven-year spell in the top-flight from the 2000-01 season onwards.

AI insists that Charlton has been battered by mismanagement and instability in recent times, yet the foundations remain solid.

The Valley is viewed as an iconic stadium, the youth system productive, and the location ideal. In a capital city that is filled with various big clubs, Charlton have certainly been left behind and needs to rise back to the top.

7 Birmingham City

Next up is Birmingham City, who recently clinched promotion out of League One back to the Championship in resounding style.

After smashing the record League One points tally, Blues enter the new second-tier season reinvigorated under Chris Davies and could prove to be second-tier forces immediately.

AI recognises that the second city deserves another top-flight force, with Blues often playing second fiddle in recent times to Aston Villa, with their bitter Midlands rivals achieving European football for three straight seasons under Unai Emery.

Since lifting the League Cup in 2011, it’s been a rather underwhelming last decade or so, with Birmingham becoming accustomed to being a mid-table Championship team before their relegation in the 2023-24 campaign.

Meanwhile, Blues have had to deal with sheer incompetence with ownership, previously struggling with maintaining quality stadium facilities and undergoing consistent managerial changes, leading to their underachievements.

However, with American owner Tom Wagner, alongside NFL icon Tom Brady, playing a significant role in the clubs’ future, there finally appears to be light at the end of the tunnel, with AI believing Blues can be transformed into a Premier League giant due to this partnership.

In at number six are Ipswich Town, who were previously one of the leading teams in Europe under Sir Bobby Robson.

In a 13-year spell that spanned from 1969-1982, the Tractor Boys triumphed with the UEFA Super Cup title, as well as lifting the FA Cup in a joyous period for the Suffolk-based outfit.

Now led by a trio of American-based businessmen in Brett Johnson, Berke Bakay and Mark Detmer, they are hoping to take Ipswich back to that position.

Ipswich did secure sensational back-to-back promotions to the Premier League during the 2023-24 season, but ultimately fell short in their quest to retain their place in the big time.

AI acknowledges that Ipswich may be awakening slightly from their slumber, but needs to have an established period in the Premier League before they can attempt to reach their previous heights.

Next is Middlesbrough, with the Teesside club embarking on their eighth straight season of second-tier football.

Their biggest success came in the early to mid-2000’s, lifting the League Cup in 2004 before finishing as UEFA Cup runners-up to Sevilla in 2006.

From the 1998-99 season onwards, Middlesbrough have had extended periods of time in the top two divisions of English football, originally having 10 straight campaigns in the top-flight before relegation down to the second-tier, where they proceeded to remain stuck for another seven years before gaining promotion back to the big time in 2015-16.

However, Boro’s stay would be short-lived, suffering immediate relegation and failing to make it back to the top-flight ever since then.

AI has recognised their stagnant stay in the Championship since their last relegation, believing their stadium, training ground, and youth system remain among the best in the division, while the North East fanbase is as passionate as ever.

AI believes a club is there with the infrastructure to return to the Premier League, but a spark has to return to the pitch.

Moving over to the South Coast, and we find Portsmouth, who are clawing their way back from a recent turbulent spell.

Administration and relegations made their 2008 FA Cup triumph under Harry Redknapp feel like a lifetime ago, with the club resigned to as low as League Two during the 2014-15 season.

It’s taken a decade for Pompey to reintegrate themselves into the Championship fold, and they did recently survive in their first term under John Mousinho.

AI has acknowledged the achievements of Portsmouth to bounce back in such adversity, with the fanbase standing strong throughout it all.

AI also views the atmosphere at Fratton Park as remaining one of the fiercest in the country, with their rich tradition and passionate support having the foundations of a club that should be making an imminent return to the Premier League.

3 Blackburn Rovers

In third spot is Blackburn Rovers, who have won a number of accolades over their illustrious history, including three top-flight titles, six FA Cups and a League Cup triumph.

However, recent times have been met by sheer frustration for all connected in Lancashire, with the Venky’s failing to show much ambition for Rovers to make it back as a big presence in the Premier League.

AI has taken a particular focus on their top-flight success in 1995, citing how the club failed to kick on and yo-yoed between the top two tiers, failing to recapture their glory days.

Despite possessing such a rich heritage, the club has drifted into the background, but their history should be earning better. A project should be built to put Blackburn back on the map, but there needs to be a change in the hierarchy for that to happen.

2 Derby County

Coming in at second spot is Derby County, who had a fall from grace after recent financial ruin left them exiled to League One.

The Rams have, of course, recovered from that, and will be hopeful of building something special under a rising coach in John Eustace.

This recent period has been a far cry from the club that was champions of England in the 1970’s under Brian Clough and Dave Mackay, but AI insists Pride Park remains one of the division’s best stadiums, while the fanbase is loyal, resilient and vocal.

With stability off the pitch now secured, AI thinks that Derby could find some consistency on it and be more than just surviving in the second-tier.

1 Sheffield Wednesday

Coming in as the biggest sleeping giant in the Championship is Sheffield Wednesday.

There are few names in English football that carry as much weight and as much frustration as The Owls.

The Yorkshire outfit were a founding member of the Football League and then ruled the First Division and lifted multiple major trophies, including four top-flight titles and three FA Cups.

Yet in the modern day, supporters have had to get used to consistent underachievement, with transfer embargoes, unpaid wages and a closed stand at Hillsborough leading to big concerns that the club is resigned to Championship relegation for the upcoming 2025-26 season.

However, AI acknowledges that Hillsborough still draws big crowds, and the potential of the club is there.

With it being a quarter of a century since they graced the Premier League, the decline has been evident for all to see, with this club drastically needing a change of ownership to awaken from their lengthy slumber.