Who the ‘largest’ clubs are is a common topic of discussion among fanbases, both online and in-person.
When debating it, there are numerous elements to consider, including each team’s history, present form, fanbase size, stadium capacity, and awards gained.
Given the recent ascension of traditional ‘lesser’ clubs to the top flight, there are numerous so-called “big clubs” in the second division – sides with a long history and Premier League pedigree that have lately dropped.
Picking the top nine is a challenging process, so Football League World consulted popular AI-based chat service ChatGPT to get its take on who the nine biggest clubs now functioning in the Championship are.
9Norwich City
Norwich City come first on the list. Despite being the traditional ‘yo-yo club’ between the Premier League and the Championship, AI recognises that there have been regular top-flight appearances.
The Canaries are widely regarded as one of the division’s premier teams, having won the second-tier title twice in their last five seasons and finishing in the top six during that time.
The fans is dedicated and enthusiastic, even during bad times, and the fact that they were able to bring in a manager like Philippe Clement when in the relegation zone this season confirms their standing as a premier club at this level.
Others are clearly higher, but being included on this nine-team list is nothing to scoff at if you’re a Norwich fan.
8Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough were a Premier League regular in the late 1900s and 2000s, winning the League Cup and spending a few seasons in Europe, where they finished second in the UEFA Cup in 2006.
And, despite only one top-flight season at the Riverside since 2009/10, Boro are still considered as one of the Championship’s biggest clubs, and are expected to compete near the top each year.
Under Kim Hellberg, it appears to be finally happening, and many older fans are enthused about the potential of reintroducing one of the classic bigger sides to the Premier League if Boro can maintain their current form in the title battle.
For the time being, they will have to make do with being one of the Championship’s larger clubs.
7Birmingham City
Birmingham City aspires to be one of Europe’s biggest teams, financed by Tom Wagner and home to a brand-new, cutting-edge 62,000-capacity stadium.
Finally, those lofty expectations do not emerge from a club with no history, and Birmingham has plenty of it. The Blues celebrated their 150th anniversary in 2025, during which time they won two FA Cups, three League Cups, and numerous second-tier trophies.
St Andrew’s is frequently crowded with Bluenoses, even when the club slipped into the League. One during the 2024/25 campaign, and their loyalty, combined with their pedigree, ensures that they make this ranking easily.
6Sheffield United
According to AI, Sheffield United are now the sixth-largest club in the Championship. The Blades may have been out of the Premier League for a long before their recent return, but their history is extensive.
Chris Wilder’s side is one of five clubs to have won trophies in all four tiers of the English football league system, and while few of their current fans will have witnessed their four FA Cup victories, it demonstrates the club’s rich heritage.
Sheffield United, like many other teams on this list, is expected to be one of the top teams in the division whenever they play in the Championship, and their position on this list is well-deserved.
5Blackburn Rovers
ChatGPT refers to Blackburn Rovers as “one of the early powerhouses of English football,” and while AI is correct in its assessment, Blackburn also arguably has more Premier League experience than most Championship teams now.
Few teams can claim to have won the Premier League, but Rovers did in 1995, headed by all-time top-flight scorer Alan Shearer. It was their third top-flight victory, after winning the First Division twice before World War One.
It’s unfortunate that Blackburn has witnessed more League One campaigns than Premier League ones since 2012, and it appears that Ewood Park will once again host third-tier action next season.
Here’s hope Rovers can stay in the Championship and make this list again next season, since they definitely have the history to be one of the greatest in the division.
4West Bromwich Albion
West Brom just missed out on a podium spot, and it’s no surprise given that they’ve only spent two seasons outside of the top two tiers.
While the Baggies’ recent Premier League campaigns have not been particularly inspiring, the sheer number of seasons they have spent there provides them an advantage over other Championship clubs.
Add to that a rich history of many FA Cups, League Cups, and a top-flight title in 1920, as well as a committed, passionate following, and it’s evident that they’re one of the biggest clubs in the Championship today.
Another struggling team, and only time will tell if the Baggies will play a rare season below the second tier next season.
3Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town’s back-to-back promotions to the Premier League in 2022 and 2024 were an extraordinary story. For some, it was a true underdog story, while for others, it represented a return to the top flight for a team that had been underperforming for far too long.
After being relegated in 2002, the Tractor Boys had been out of the top flight for 22 years. To put that in perspective, in 1980, Ipswich were European Champions, having won the UEFA Cup and finishing second in back-to-back top-flight campaigns.
Even during their lengthy spell in the Championship before being relegated to League One, Ipswich was frequently in and around the play-offs, demonstrating that they were always one of the division’s bigger sides.
Kieran McKenna’s team is vying for promotion once more, and if they earn it in May, they’ll be hoping that this is the start of a long run back in the top division.
2Southampton
Many modern fans find it difficult to accept that Southampton is now in the second tier, despite the fact that they finished in the top six of the Premier League a decade ago and participated in Europe.
Finally, the Saints have had a terrible few years, with two bottom-place finishes in the Premier League echoing their previous two trips into the top division, and even now, down in the Championship, things have not been easy.
However, due to recency bias and a long history of playing in the top two tiers, AI predicts a top two finish in this ranking.
1Leicester City
And if it’s weird to witness a former top-six Premier League side fading away into the Championship, what about the top-flight Champions from a decade ago?
The number one place is not really arguable. Leicester City won the Premier League in 2016 and the FA Cup in 2021, and have also competed in the UEFA Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League over the last decade.
They were in the top ten for four straight seasons before being relegated in the 2022/23 season, and they have since struggled to return, despite winning the Championship the first time around.
Financial issues have resulted in a six-point deduction, and, like Blackburn, a former top-flight champion faces relegation to League One.
A club of Leicester’s size in the third division would be preposterous, and die-hard Foxes fans will be hoping that does not happen so they can stay the Championship’s largest club next season.
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