England’s second tier is still one of the most exciting divisions in world football.
The Championship is brimming with ambitious clubs vying for a return to the Premier League, underdogs punching well above their weight, and institutions with a rich history that many fans elsewhere can only contemplate.
With this in mind, Football League World examines the past achievements of each club competing in the 2025/26 Championship.
24Watford – 0 major honours
Watford begin this list having not won a major honor in their 143-year history. However, as will be the case throughout, a lack of silverware does not imply that the club is without success.
Hornets fans have very recent Premier League memories, as Watford were demoted from the top division in 2022. Prior to the three years from 2020 to 2022 (which included relegation, promotion, and relegation), Watford had a five-year stay in the top flight, during which they achieved a club-high 11th position in the Premier League era, and one of the Hornets’ finest moments occurred the same year.
Gerard Deulofeu ignited a remarkable comeback against Wolves in the 2019 FA Cup semi-final, leading Watford to a 3-2 victory at Wembley. They would lose 6-0 to Manchester City in the final, marking their second time as FA Cup runners-up.
23Hull City – 0 major honours
Similarly to Watford, one of Hull City’s finest moments came in the FA Cup, when they staged a comeback to defeat Sheffield United 5-3 in the 2014 semi-final, securing a position in the final for the first time in the club’s history, before losing 3-2 to a late Aaron Ramsey strike.
The club’s two indisputable finest moments occurred at Wembley Stadium, with goals from Dean Widass and Mohamed Diame propelling Hull to the Premier League via the play-offs in 2008 and 2016, respectively.
22Millwall – 0 major honours
Millwall have spent the majority of their existence outside of the top division, with only one EFL Trophy win in 1983 to their name – albeit this is not considered one of the major trophies.
Millwall returned to the Championship in 2017 and has flirted with the play-offs several times. However, the Lions have been unable to put together a thorough promotion effort.
21Bristol City – 0 major honours
The Robins have created tremendous infrastructure at Ashton Gate, which is located in one of England’s largest and most populous cities. Throughout the club’s history, however, they have been unable to win any silverware.
City was promoted to the Championship in 2015 and has remained in the second tier ever since. Their successful play-off run in the 2024/25 season has given them hope that their form will continue, currently under Gerhard Struber.
20Wrexham – 0 major honours
Wrexham’s trophy tally in England is limited to lower-league titles and EFL trophy victories, but they have won the Welsh Cup an unprecedented 23 times.
In the previous five years, the team has risen from non-league to second-tier status, with Hollywood owners harbouring genuine ambitions to play at a higher level than the Championship.
19Oxford United – 1 major honour
As with the first section of our list, we are now entering an area where numerous clubs are vying for one important accolade in their history.
Oxford’s only historical trophy came in 1986, when they won the League Cup 3-0 over Queens Park Rangers. However, in a more modern sense, the U’s are already punching above their weight by being in the second tier.
18Charlton Athletic – 1 major honour
The Addicks have been handicapped by boardroom turmoil for much of their contemporary history. Their only great achievement occurred in 1947, when Charlton won the FA Cup.
The Addicks, who have returned to the second tier for the first time since the 2019/20 season, have started well under Nathan Jones, and fans are hoping that, just maybe, they may be able to dream of a higher division in the future.
17Stoke City – 1 major honour
Stoke City last won a major prize in 1972, when they captured the League Cup. The Potters have been closest to one since 2011, when they fell to Manchester City in the FA Cup final.
Stoke were demoted from the Premier League in 2018 and have yet to mount a promotion campaign since. This season’s fantastic start under Mark Robins has given Midlands fans hope that a return to the top division is on the cards sooner rather than later.
16Coventry City – 1 major honour
Coventry’s last significant victory occurred in 1987, when the Sky Blues won the FA Cup. However, the club bounced around the pyramid’s tiers for a long time in the following years.
The Sky Blues are now leading the Championship moving into the festive season, despite losing to Sunderland in the play-off semi-finals in May. Given their momentum and frequent near misses, Coventry fans expect the club to return to the top division soon.
15Queens Park Rangers – 1 major honour
Queens Park Rangers’ only trophy to date was a League Cup victory in 1967. In the intervening years, they have failed to win any major awards.
The R’s were demoted from the Premier League in 2015 and have since remained mid-table in the Championship. The ongoing project led by Frenchman Julien Stephan has brought hope for a rise in the standings, albeit the R’s have had their fair share of managers leave for greener pastures in recent years.
14Swansea City – 1 major honour
Swansea have won silverware more recently than any other team in the current Championship, with their only major victory coming in the League Cup in 2013.
Prior to their relegation to the Championship in 2018, the Swans had worked hard to establish themselves as Premier League regulars. Since the relegation, the team has made two play-off appearances, but has unable to repeat its early-2010s form.
13Southampton – 1 major honour
Southampton last won the FA Cup in 1976. Saints fans have witnessed several wonderful moments since, but no additional silverware has been added to the cabinet.
Southampton were regulars in and around the competition for European football barely a decade ago, but they have dropped back to the Championship twice since.
12Middlesbrough – 1 major honour
Boro’s sole major achievement occurred in 2004, when they won the League Cup. Middlesbrough, meanwhile, has swung between the first and second tiers in recent years.
With this in mind, the Teessiders are constantly on the list of names to promote when a new campaign begins. Despite the departure of manager Rob Edwards, their start to the current season places them as one of the favourites to climb in May under new manager Kim Hellberg.
11Norwich City – 2 major honours
Norwich has won the League Cup twice (in 1962 and 1985), as well as numerous promotion bids since the turn of the millennium.
However, with promotion comes demotion. Throughout the 2010s and early 20s, the Canaries were promoted in 2011, 2015, 2019, and 2021, but were relegated after only one season in the top division on three of those times.
10Birmingham City – 2 major honours
Birmingham’s last significant victory came in 2011, when the Blues stunned the nation by defeating Arsenal to win the League Cup on a late Obafemi Martins goal.
Birmingham suffered for much of the following decade, but their 2023 takeover has sparked dreams to propel the team to new heights. With plans for a new 62,000-seat Birmingham Powerhouse Stadium, the Blues will want to add to their trophy cupboard in the coming years.
9Ipswich Town – 3 major honours
Ipswich are the only club in the current Championship roster to have won a continental competition, the UEFA Cup in 1981, which evolved into what is now known as the Europa League.
Domestic silverware has been uncommon since the late 1970s, with an FA Cup victory in 1978 adding a second trophy to the cabinet following Ipswich’s First Division title in 1962, but the Tractor Boys are among the favourites to return to the Premier League sooner rather than later.
8Derby County – 3 major honours
Derby’s top-flight history includes two First Division titles (1971/72 and 1974/75), as well as an FA Cup victory in 1946.
The Rams have struggled to win silverware in recent seasons, bouncing between the top three categories of English football. However, they are now settling back into the Championship following a brief stay in League One due to ownership problems.
7Preston North End – 3 major honours
Preston were one of the founding giants of English football, going undefeated to win the first ever First Division title in 1989 and repeating the feat a year later.
Their most recent big trophy came in 1938, when PNE won the FA Cup. They’ve been in the Championship since 2015, spending the majority of that time in the middle of the table, but they’re hoping to challenge for promotion this season under Paul Heckingbottom.
6Portsmouth – 4 major honours
Portsmouth, an island club on the South Coast, has a tremendous history, winning two First Division titles and two FA Cups.
Their most recent victory came in 2008, when Pompey won the FA Cup. However, financial problems caused them to fall as low as League Two until finally returning to the Championship in 2024.
5Sheffield United – 5 major honours
Sheffield United have been regular promotion candidates since their return to the Championship in 2017, spending a total of three years in the top division during that time.
While the Blades do not have as many trophies as their rivals Wednesday, they have won the FA Cup four times and become English champions once.
4Leicester City – 5 major honours
Leicester’s previous two major titles occurred more recently than any other Championship club, with their incredible Premier League victory in 2016 kicking off an era of consistent European football that was concluded by an FA Cup success in 2021.
The Foxes already have top-flight infrastructure, and it’s unclear how the team ended up back in the Championship in the first place. While they have not met expectations this season, Leicester will always be seen as possible promotion hopefuls entering into any Championship campaign.
3West Bromwich Albion – 7 major honours
The Baggies’ last major victory was the FA Cup, which they won in 1968. Promotions and play-off victories have since occurred.
Albion had previously had great success, with West Brom being English champions once, as well as winning five FA Cups and one League Cup. The Baggies were relegated from the Premier League in 2021, but they will always be among the favourites for promotion if they return to the division.
2Sheffield Wednesday – 8 major honours
Though the majority of Sheffield Wednesday’s big trophies were added to the cabinet before World War II, the Owls are a massive football club in the English football scene.
Wednesday have won four league titles, three FA Cups, and one League Cup in their history, but they have had their share of difficult years under Dejphon Chansiri in recent years. Looking to move forward under new ownership, it will be a difficult task to improve the club, but a return to the top division would be a watershed moment for English football as a whole.
1Blackburn Rovers – 10 major honours
Blackburn Rovers are the most historically successful club in the current Championship. Rovers’ most recent title came in 1995, when they won the Premier League, before the club experienced upheaval over the next 30 years.
Blackburn Rovers have won the English Championship three times, six FA Cups, and one League Cup in 2002.
Rovers have been an EFL fixture since their relegation from the Premier League in 2012, and the team will also play in League One in 2017/18. Since returning to the second flight a year later, the club has come close but has been unable to sustain a meaningful promotion push.
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