With the Championship season coming to a finish, all 24 teams in the division will be prepared to award individual awards to their main performers throughout a tough nine-month period, in addition to focusing on their on-field problems.
In addition, the annual EFL awards ceremony will be held in London on Sunday, April 19th, during which the top talent and best-performing managers from the second tier, League One, and League Two will be recognized nationally for their contributions to their respective divisions.
In the Championship, four managers – Frank Lampard, Kim Hellberg, Alex Neil, and Sergej Jakirovic – will compete for the Manager of the Season title, while four second-tier players will vie for Player of the Season.
Unsurprisingly, such nominations have already caused quite a commotion on social media, with a number of teams and players weighing in on the topic.
With that in mind, Football League World has selected the 11 greatest players in the Championship this season based on their performances in a variety of roles and circumstances; here are their picks.
11 Matt Grimes
Matt Grimes, Coventry City’s club captain and deep-lying midfielder, leads off this list.
The 30-year-old was given the armband following Ben Sheaf’s departure to Wrexham in August, and having such responsibility on his veteran shoulders seemed to have improved his performance.
After arriving from Swansea City for around £3.5 million last January, the midfielder has rarely missed a beat this season, dictating the flow of several games in which his team has dominated.
Grimes, in addition to contributing the occasional goal or assist, ranks among the best in the division in terms of successful tackles, interceptions, and recoveries, and it appears that he will get his first chance at regular Premier League minutes after a handful of previous top-flight appearances with the Swans.
10 Sorba Thomas
While Coventry are on their way to the Premier League, its previous manager, Mark Robins, and his current employers, Stoke City, are not.
Despite another inconsistent season in North Staffordshire, Welsh international Sorba Thomas, who arrived from Huddersfield Town for just £1.5 million, has made significant contributions.
The 27-year-old started the season on fire, scoring five goals in the first three games, and has now accumulated double-figures in both goals and assists, despite the Potters’ dramatic slide since the turn of 2026.
As a result, it comes as no surprise that Thomas has been linked with a move to Everton ahead of the summer transfer season.
9 Jack Rudoni
Jack Rudoni, another of Coventry’s shining stars, comes next.
It is fair to suggest that the attacking midfielder may have ranked higher if he had not been out for two periods due to injuries.
Regardless, it is evident how important the 24-year-old is to Lampard’s Sky Blues, having scored double figures by April despite appearing in fewer than 30 Championship games.
Given his well-known starring abilities in the second tier, many will be interested to see how Rudoni performs in the top division for the Midlands club, with Lampard recently suggesting that he has the potential to play in the UEFA Champions League.
8 Tristan Crama
Tristan Crama, Millwall’s defensive ace, is ranked eighth.
The Lions’ surprising automatic promotion campaign has been built on defensive solidity, with the Frenchman standing out with Caleb Taylor and Jake Cooper.
Crama’s flexibility has been a significant asset for the South London club this season, with him playing at the heart of defence and full-back while also proving to be a handful in offensive situations, as evidenced by his goal and two assists in a 3-0 win over Birmingham City in late February.
Given the club’s recent tendency to find gems and sell them for a big profit, it wouldn’t be surprising if the former Brentford man was the next to fall into that category, especially if Millwall are not promoted at the end of the season.
7 Imran Louza
Watford have had an up-and-down season with three different head coaches, but Imran Louza has stood out at Vicarage Road.
The Moroccan has had his greatest season in terms of stats for the Hornets since joining from FC Nantes for £10 million in the summer of 2021.
Louza’s abilities were most highlighted during a 10-game stretch from September to November, when he scored six goals and assisted three others.
Unsurprisingly, this has sparked intense speculation over his long-term future, with FLW exclusively confirming that the 26-year-old is currently under consideration by both Everton and Fulham.
6 Oli McBurnie
Next up is seasoned Championship combatant and striker Oli McBurnie, who has played a major role in Hull City’s promotion push under Sergej Jakirovic.
After the Tigers lured the Scotsman to the MKM Stadium on a free transfer in August, the 29-year-old has demonstrated why several clubs in the division coveted his services in the summer.
This is also the forward’s best productive season in seven years, with 20 combined goals and assists, as well as his typical aggressive presence at the top of the pitch.
5 Leo Scienza
Southampton winger Leo Scienza is in sixth place.
The 27-year-old has proven to be an excellent addition to the South Coast side, having arrived from FC Heidenheim on Deadline Day in September.
Despite the Saints’ mixed season under Will Still and current manager Tonda Eckert, Scienza has been a fan favorite for his commitment and ability, and that has certainly caught the eye in the club’s run to the FA Cup semi-finals, where figures from Aston Villa, Leeds United, and Tottenham Hotspur will have been impressed by his performance in the 2-1 win over Arsenal on April 4th.
4Femi Azeez
In fourth place is Millwall’s Femi Azeez, who has often demonstrated his current skill and potential this season following a difficult debut campaign at The Den.
The 24-year-old’s individual campaign began in October with four goals and an assist in four games, followed by another hot streak of assists at the start of 2026.
3 Hayden Hackney
Hayden Hackney, Middlesbrough’s homegrown talent, takes home the ‘bronze medal’ on this list.
After breaking onto the forefront at the Riverside Stadium under Michael Carrick, the midfielder has continued to improve under Rob Edwards and Kim Hellberg, while also being the focus of heated transfer speculation for some time.
Hackney is frequently seen as a metronomic figure in the Swedes’ lineup, while also demonstrating good defensive instincts and leadership at the base of midfield.
It also came as a boost to Boro earlier this season when the England youth international turned down bids from Ipswich Town and Nottingham Forest, and they will undoubtedly expect to see him play in the Premier League with the Teesside club next season as a reward for his commitment.
2 Carl Rushworth
Carl Rushworth, Coventry’s on-loan goalkeeper, ranks second.
Despite never having the opportunity to play for his parent club, Brighton, in the Premier League, the Sky Blues shot-stopper has been a reliable performer in the Championship for some time.
Unsurprisingly, given his outstanding season between the posts, as seen by his clean sheet record and save percentage, the 24-year-old is destined to play in the top level next season in some capacity.
It remains to be seen if it will be with Coventry, but the Yorkshireman appears to be on his way to a senior call-up for England, having been close twice in recent months.
1 Zan Vipotnik
However, Swansea’s Slovenian hotshot, Zan Vipotnik, has beaten him to the top spot.
The 24-year-old has been the most lethal finisher in the Championship this season, and it’s difficult to understand why the South Wales club hasn’t advanced to the play-offs under Vitor Matos or his predecessor, Alan Sheehan.
After surpassing the 20-goal mark earlier this month, the Swans administration will undoubtedly be salivating over the amount of money that may be earned from his exploits, especially since they recently agreed to a new contract with the forward.
In January, Vipotnik drew interest from Serie A clubs and West Ham United, and speculation about his immediate future has already begun, with Coventry and Ipswich joining a handful of established Premier League sides in the hunt for his services.
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