Exclusive: Don Goodman reacts when asked who the 3 biggest EFL Championship clubs are | OneFootball

Out of the 24 Championship clubs, the Sky Sports pundit has been asked to name the three biggest

The 2025/26 Championship campaign is shortly upon us, with 24 teams gearing up to stake their claim for a place in the Premier League.

English football’s second-tier is home to some of the nation’s most historic clubs, who were among the founding members of the EFL.

From Premier League champions to those returning to the division after a long absence, there is quite a variation of teams competing in the Championship next season.

Some outfits naturally hold more stature in the game, due to various factors such as their past achievements and rich history.

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, Sky Sports pundit and former EFL striker, Don Goodman, was asked to name the three clubs he deemed to be the biggest in the Championship.

Don Goodman weighs in on the Championship's three biggest teams

“This is a question that I couldn't possibly answer without getting myself into serious trouble with football supporters up and down the Championship,” Goodman joked.

“Ultimately, what's the definition of a big club? Leicester City are the only team that have won the Premier League in that league. Does that make them the biggest club? Not necessarily.

“So, there are only five teams that haven't managed to play in the Premier League of the 24 Championship sides, so there are some massive clubs in the division with great history.

“Is history the thing that makes a team the biggest? Is it trophies? Is it what's their average crowd? There are so many factors and it's impossible for me to say.

“I'm just looking forward to another brilliant season with lots and lots of big clubs in the Championship.”

The 2025/26 Championship season possesses some mammoth contenders

As Goodman alluded to, it’s hard to clearly say which second-tier teams elevate themselves above each other in terms of stature.

Leicester City were competing in Europe just three years ago and clinched the Premier League title in 2016, which puts them clear of the rest in terms of recent success.

Sides such as Preston North End, Blackburn Rovers and Sheffield Wednesday were some of the nation’s first ever champions and have been huge names in English football for over 125 years.

Birmingham City and Wrexham look to be building projects that will compete in the top-flight in years to come, offering a different kind of footballing experience to that of the past.

Up and down the second-tier, there are 24 unique clubs that all enjoy their own history and achievements. It’s hard to properly quantify which sides outweigh the others in terms of stature, but they make for an enticing roster ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.