With the EFL Championship celebrating its twentieth birthday on 7 August 2024, we glance again on the statistically influential gamers within the competitors since its rebrand in 2004.
At this time marks 20 years because the first ever matches had been performed within the rebranded EFL Championship. Within the first kick-off on 7 August 2004, Leeds took on Derby County.
Eighteen minutes from the top, Leeds’ Frazer Richardson had the honour of scoring the Championship’s first ever objective. He scored previous Lee Camp within the Derby objective, making the primary of his 529 appearances within the competitors, a file for a goalkeeper. Richardson would go on to make 176 Championship appearances, the final of which was for Rotherham United in opposition to Hull Metropolis in Could 2016. The Millers’ goalkeeper that day? Camp, after all.
Virtually 5,000 gamers have graced the Championship since 2004-05, with some former internationals having fun with their remaining years earlier than retiring (Teddy Sheringham, Dion Dublin, Kevin Phillips) and others incomes a reputation for themselves within the recreation on their option to profitable the UEFA Champions League (Gareth Bale, Jude Bellingham, Mason Mount).
Then there are the Championship stalwarts, those that appear to have at all times been there: Albert Adomah, Tom Lees, Lukas Jutkiewicz, Richard Keogh, Luke Chambers and others are all synonymous with the ‘muck and nettles’ of the Championship, to make use of the phrase of a person who has managed extra video games and groups than every other supervisor within the division, Neil Warnock.
In considered one of two articles wanting again of 20 years of the Championship because it was rebranded in 2004, we make a journey down reminiscence lane and provides an outline of the important thing gamers over that point.
The Gamers
Half I: The Stalwarts
Albert Adomah’s six-minute substitute look for Queens Park Rangers in a 2-0 win over Millwall again in January could not have appeared to have a lot gravitas connected to it on the time, nevertheless it was vital for being his 530th recreation within the Championship. That set a brand new file by a single participant (he went on so as to add 5 extra and attain 535), overtaking goalkeeper Lee Camp’s complete of 529.
Adomah could have performed alongside three gamers known as Lee within the Championship (Johnson, Tomlin, Wallace) however by no means alongside Camp regardless of each enjoying for, at one time or one other, QPR and Nottingham Forest. Between them, Adomah and Camp performed for 21% of the groups who’ve ever performed within the division, though one other stint for the previous Ghana worldwide appears to be like unlikely, with him dropping all the way down to League Two with Walsall.
Behind Adomah and Camp within the look charts is Tom Lees, whose 493 matches have been unfold between three Yorkshire golf equipment, Leeds United (123), Sheffield Wednesday (254) and Huddersfield City (116).
Though each Adomah (2) and Camp (3) very briefly made Premier League appearances, Lees has by no means performed above Championship degree. In truth, following Huddersfield’s relegation, Lees shall be making a league look outdoors of the Championship for the primary time since Could 2011. Lees holds the file for probably the most Championship appearances (since 2004) with out ever showing within the prime flight, with two 1-0 play-off remaining defeats beneath managers known as Carlos (Carvalhal and Corberan) in opposition to managers known as Steve (Bruce and Cooper) in 2016 (Sheffield Wednesday vs Hull) and 2022 (Huddersfield vs Nottingham Forest) the closest he has come.
It’s maybe becoming that the 2 gamers with probably the most play-off remaining begins are two of the opposite 5 gamers with 400 or extra Championship appearances to have by no means performed within the Premier League.
Richard Keogh made 467 Championship appearances, together with 10 within the play-offs for Derby County, reaching the ultimate at Wembley twice however ending on the shedding facet each occasions. Sadly for him, his most memorable incident throughout the 2 play-off finals got here in 2014 in opposition to QPR, when his clearance fell on the ft of Bobby Zamora to attain within the Ninetieth minute. That is the one time a Championship play-off remaining has been determined with a last-minute objective, whereas Zamora solely scored 4 objectives that season, and three of them had been within the Ninetieth minute.
Jake Bidwell, equally, has began 10 play-off matches however by no means performed within the Premier League, along with his two finals additionally ending in disappointment, whereas at Swansea Metropolis in 2021 and Coventry Metropolis in 2023. Maybe appropriately given his title, the participant with probably the most Championship appearances who has performed precisely as soon as within the Premier League is John Swift – 304 within the second tier however just one swift look within the top-flight in Could 2014 for Chelsea in opposition to Cardiff.
Then there are the gamers who’re continually on the transfer. Each defender Elliott Ward and striker Leon Greatest performed for 10 completely different Championship golf equipment, a file complete for a participant, with each journeymen enjoying within the first season in 2004-05 and making their remaining appearances in 2016-17. They began 35 video games alongside each other for Coventry in that interval, the one time the 2 gamers crossed over on their journey by way of the Championship.
Though Ward was a central defender (admittedly one who took penalties) and Greatest was a striker, Ward really scored for extra golf equipment (6) than Greatest did (5), with the latter enjoying 57 video games for Derby, Newcastle, Brighton, Ipswich and QPR mixed with out discovering the web.
Different gamers have been a magnet for playing cards. Henri Lansbury has probably the most yellow playing cards in Championship historical past (90), along with his ‘excessive’ coming in 2014-15 when he was booked 13 occasions. Following him are fellow midfielders Jonathan Hogg (82), George Saville (80), Ben Pearson (79) and Grant Leadbitter (79). The only season file is 16, by Matt Crooks in 2021-22, adopted by Paul Robinson (of Birmingham Metropolis, not Neighbours) with 15 in 2013-14 and Jack Colback additionally with 15 in 2018-19.
Derby’s Spanish midfielder Iñigo Idiákez had a formidable Championship file run of being booked in seven consecutive appearances between April and August 2005, a run that wasn’t equalled for nearly 17 years till Sam Discipline had a seven-game yellow card flurry in March and April 2022 for QPR.
Neither Idiákez or Discipline have acquired a Championship pink card, which isn’t one thing that may be mentioned of Matt Mills and Darius Henderson, who every acquired a Championship file complete of 9 reds every.
Mills was pink carded for a file 5 completely different golf equipment (Studying, Leicester, Nottingham Forest, Bolton and Doncaster), whereas Henderson’s 9 got here throughout 4 completely different golf equipment, along with his first two reds each coming in opposition to Kevin Blackwell’s Leeds; Henderson was later then despatched off 3 times beneath Blackwell for Sheffield United.
For a single membership, the file is eight reds by Alan Dunne at Millwall adopted by Gaetano Berardi’s seven at Leeds (considered one of which was later rescinded in opposition to Millwall). Berardi is considered one of eight gamers despatched off 3 times in a single Championship marketing campaign, considered one of whom was Hildeberto Pereira for Nottingham Forest in 2016-17, whose three reds got here in a 22-game Championship stint wherein he was additionally despatched off in consecutive appearances in opposition to Blackburn and QPR.
The youngest participant to obtain a Championship pink card was Chris Cohen for West Ham in opposition to Burnley within the opening month of 2004-05, doing so in its place and aged simply 17 years and 176 days. Since then, solely two 17-year-olds have been proven a pink card, with Jordan Clarke receiving one in November 2009 for Coventry and Nathaniel Chalobah being despatched off for Watford in October 2012.
4 youngsters have been despatched off greater than as soon as, however none can fairly match the file of Simon Walton, who was pink carded 4 occasions earlier than his twentieth birthday for 3 completely different golf equipment (Leeds, Ipswich and Cardiff) within the Championship. After ultimately leaving his teenage angst behind him, Walton was solely despatched off as soon as extra in 29 video games.
On the different finish of the dimensions, the 2 gamers aged over 40 to obtain a Championship pink card have over 100 England caps between them – a 41-year-old Teddy Sheringham in 2007 and 40-year-old David James in 2011.
Just one participant has performed greater than 100 occasions within the Championship and never been cautioned or despatched off. Former Studying goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann performed 125 video games with out receiving a lot as a yellow card for time-wasting. Nevertheless, this file couldn’t lengthen to top-flight soccer, as throughout 115 Premier League appearances, the American was booked eight occasions.
Arguably, much more spectacular than Hahnemann is the case of former Brentford holding midfielder Kamohelo Mokotjo, who performed 94 video games and dedicated 45 fouls with out being carded. Since 2013-14, the one participant to commit extra fouls and never be carded is Freddie Ladapo (53), whereas rounding off the highest three is cumbersome ahead Adebayo Akinfenwa, who dedicated 43 fouls however none of these impressed a referee to succeed in for his or her pocket. One other striker, Lukas Jutkiewicz, has performed 474 video games within the Championship and has by no means as soon as been despatched off, a file.
Half II: The Goalscorers
Though his complete of 78 Championship objectives doesn’t fairly get him into the highest 20 of all-time, Martyn Waghorn does maintain the excellence of getting scored for probably the most completely different golf equipment. He discovered the web for all 9 sides he appeared for between 2008 and 2023.
Waghorn’s first Championship objective was for Charlton in opposition to Derby in December 2008 aged simply 18, which was maybe becoming as he then went on to play extra video games (112) and rating extra objectives (26) for the Rams than he did for every other Championship facet. Sixty-two of his 78 objectives had been scored throughout three of his golf equipment – Derby (26), Leicester (20) and Ipswich (16) – with the opposite 16 unfold throughout six others, scoring precisely as soon as for Charlton, Hull and Huddersfield, two for Coventry, three for Millwall and eight for Wigan.
His launch by Derby this summer season implies that, because it stands, Waghorn gained’t be capable to add to his tally and break into the highest 20 neither is it seemingly he’d add a tenth membership to his Championship CV when it comes to objectives.
And so, to the Championship’s 100-club. These are names that that roll off the tongue when considering of famend Championship marksmen.
On the prime of the rating is Billy Sharp, scorer of 130 Championship objectives in 410 video games. Sharp’s unbelievable longevity at this degree – the one participant to have performed in each the 2004-05 and 2023-24 campaigns – is maybe greatest highlighted by the truth that Sean Dyche, now aged 53 and with over 500 video games in administration beneath his belt, was enjoying for Watford in Sharp’s first recreation in November 2004 as a late substitute for hometown membership Sheffield United.
Sharp has since gone on to attain for seven completely different groups and play a key function in automated promotion for each Southampton in 2011-12 (9 objectives in 15 video games after signing mid-season) and the Blades in 2018-19 and 2022-23, significantly within the former when he scored 23 objectives, his most in a marketing campaign at this degree. Sharp notched two of his three hat-tricks that season, considered one of which noticed him scored three objectives in a 3-3 draw with Hull in February 2019, three days after his thirty third birthday. Sharp’s departure from Hull in the summertime to a different former membership, Doncaster, will see him play in League Two for the primary time since he did so in 2004-05 with Rushden & Diamonds.
Six different gamers have scored over 100 objectives within the Championship. Two strikers sit joint-second on 125 objectives every, with David Nugent enjoying in 12 completely different seasons, scoring in each, however solely as soon as ending under tenth within the desk with a staff (sixteenth with Portsmouth in 2010-11).
Nugent’s greatest season for objectives was in 2013-14 for Leicester Metropolis, scoring 20 occasions and likewise offering 12 assists. It was considered one of 4 seasons wherein Nugent scored a minimum of 15 objectives, with solely Ross McCormack doing so extra typically (5 seasons). He was additionally a wonderful supply of objectives within the play-offs, with 4 in complete, a tally no participant can higher, scoring in each legs of the 2012-13 semi-final for Leicester and maintaining the likes of Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy on the bench, though that yr’s second leg is a lot better remembered for Troy Deeney’s Ninetieth- minute tie-winning objective for Watford.
Ipswich had been definitely glad to see the again of him. Nugent netted 14 objectives in 17 appearances in opposition to the Tractor Boys, 4 greater than every other participant has ever scored in opposition to a single Championship opponent.
Additionally on 125 Championship objectives is Jordan Rhodes – the one participant to web 25+ objectives in back-to-back Championship seasons (29 in 2012-13 adopted by 25 in 2013-14) and considered one of solely three gamers to have scored in seven consecutive appearances, together with Charlie Austin and Aleksandar Mitrovic.
Rhodes scored 64 Championship objectives beneath supervisor Gary Bowyer, a file by a participant beneath a single supervisor within the competitors, whereas his 83 objectives for Blackburn are bettered for a single membership solely by Deeney at Watford (85) and Peter Whittingham at Cardiff (84).
McCormack takes fourth place for Championship objectives with 120 in 337 video games. The diminutive ahead, who as soon as partnered Olympic objective medallist sprinter Usain Bolt in a pleasant for Central Coast Mariners in 2018 after leaving the Championship behind, loved three completely different 20-goal campaigns. He did so for a special membership every time – 21 for Cardiff in 2008-09, 28 for Leeds in 2013-14 and 21 for Fulham in 2015-16, whereas he’s the one participant to attain 15+ objectives in 5 completely different Championship seasons.
McCormack’s goalscoring feats are made much more spectacular by the actual fact he had a run of type wherein he scored simply 4 objectives in 62 appearances between April 2009 and April 2011. Solely Dwight Gayle (5) has extra Championship hat-tricks than McCormack’s 4, with a type of coming in a four-goal haul in opposition to Charlton for Leeds in 2013 whereas carrying the quantity 44 shirt.
Making up the remainder of the Championship’s 100-club are Chris Martin (116), Lewis Grabban (112) and Nahki Wells (101).
Martin is greatest remembered for his spells at Derby, scoring 69 objectives total and having his greatest minutes-per-goal ratio there (one each 220 minutes). He was additionally identified for his uncanny means to win fouls. Since 2013-14, Martin is the one participant to win 500+ fouls within the Championship (526), together with 9 in a single recreation in August 2013. Just one participant has gained extra in a recreation since then; unsurprisingly, the much-fouled Jack Grealish, on two events.
Grabban scored 112 objectives and featured within the promotion-winning campaigns by Norwich in 2014-15 and Nottingham Forest in 2021-22, whereas he’s considered one of solely three gamers to play in a Championship play-off remaining for 3 completely different groups (Norwich, Studying, Aston Villa), alongside Gary O’Neil and Kevin Phillips. Maybe most impressively of all, although, is that none of Grabban’s 112 objectives have been as a part of a hat-trick – he’s the one member of the 100-club with out a hat-trick, scoring the joint-most braces in Championship historical past (20).
Lastly, Wells has 101 objectives in 388 Championship appearances. Seventeen of these objectives have come in its place, a complete solely 5 gamers can higher. Wells might have had extra had been he extra medical from the penalty spot. Of Wells’ 15 penalty makes an attempt within the Championship, he has missed six, together with two within the area of 11 minutes in opposition to Fulham for Huddersfield in March 2015 – considered one of solely two situations on file (2013-14 onwards) of a participant lacking two penalties in a single Championship recreation.
In fact, not all gamers stick round lengthy sufficient within the Championship to problem the all-time prime scorer record, however some nonetheless have a memorable affect.
Three completely different gamers have hit 30 or extra objectives in a single Championship marketing campaign. The primary was Glenn Murray for Crystal Palace in 2012-13, who had solely made his debut at that degree on the age of 27 the season prior, wherein he bagged solely six objectives. Murray had reached six objectives by the top of September the next marketing campaign and scored 29 in his first 33 video games earlier than enduring an eight-game barren spell. His thirtieth league objective of the season lastly got here in Could in opposition to Peterborough. He would ultimately make his Premier League bow in February 2014 and scored 37 top-flight objectives in complete, 26 of which had been for Brighton for whom he additionally netted 23 occasions of their 2016-17 Championship promotion marketing campaign.
There wouldn’t be one other 30-goal season till 2020-21 when Brentford’s Ivan Toney – whose solely two appearances within the prime two tiers of English soccer as much as that stage had been brief substitute appearances for Newcastle in 2015 – scored 33 objectives in a season that might finish in promotion for the Bees.
Toney scored 10 occasions in his first 10 Championship video games, the quickest any participant had reached double-figures for objectives within the competitors (the earlier quickest was 13 video games by Jason Roberts, Diomansy Kamara and Marek Saganowski). He went on to attain 11 penalties within the 2020-21 marketing campaign, probably the most by a participant in a single Championship season.
Toney’s twenty fifth Championship objective got here in his thirty second recreation, 5 appearances faster than anybody has scored 25 objectives within the competitors. His remaining complete of 33 in 48 appearances (together with scoring in each the semi-final and remaining of the play-offs) appeared set to be a file that might be robust to beat.
That was till Aleksandar Mitrovic fired Fulham to glory in 2021-22, nevertheless. Though that marketing campaign was removed from his first Championship expertise – he had scored 42 objectives in 86 video games for Newcastle and Fulham throughout the 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2019-20 campaigns – the Serbian beat Toney’s earlier file by 10 objectives, scoring an unbelievable 43 occasions, together with three hat-tricks and 9 braces.
The Serbian striker solely failed to attain in opposition to three of the opposite 23 Championship sides that season – Coventry, Derby and Sheffield United had been all spared – equalling Toney’s file of 20 completely different opponents scored in opposition to in 2020-21.
Each Mitrovic and Toney are inside the prime 5 gamers for minutes per objective in Championship historical past (fourth and fifth respectively) however gamers with a minimum of 1,000 minutes performed, one of the best ratio is a objective each 97 minutes by Odion Ighalo, who notched 20 objectives in 35 appearances for Watford in 2014-15. With a plethora of attacking expertise at Vicarage Highway that season, the Nigerian needed to be content material with simply 22 of his appearances coming inside the beginning XI, whereas solely 9 noticed him full the entire 90 minutes (he scored 10 objectives in these accomplished appearances).
Half III: The Creators
With Opta having detailed knowledge for the Championship since 2013-14, we’re ready to take a look at probably the most artistic gamers in that 11-year interval.
On a really fundamental degree, participant assists, the 2 most artistic in that point are Jed Wallace (55) and Jamie Paterson (50). In open play, two have 41 assists – Adomah (him once more) and Adam Attain. assists solely from set performs, once more two gamers share the crown, with each Craig Conway and Joe Ralls having 24 every.
In single seasons, Harry Wilson in 2021-22 for Fulham has probably the most assists (19), adopted by Ipswich’s Leif Davis final season (18) and Matt Ritchie for Bournemouth in 2014-15 (17). In open play, Emiliano Buendía for Norwich created probably the most in 2020-21, helping all 16 of his objectives for teammates with none coming from set-piece conditions.
Ipswich’s full-back star Davis additionally registered 125 possibilities created in 2023-24, a league file by a person since 2013-14, with James Maddison beforehand having probably the most in 2017-18 with 124. Throughout the final 11 seasons, solely two gamers have created 100+ possibilities in two completely different seasons – Ross McCormack in 2013-14 for Leeds (108) and 2015-16 for Fulham (100) and John Swift for Studying in each 2021-22 (102) and 2022-23 (108), which means Swift is the one participant to realize that in back-to-back campaigns.
it from a minutes-per-assist ratio of gamers with a minimum of 5,000 minutes performed, Buendía has by far and away one of the best ratio (one each 221 minutes), helping 28 objectives in 77 video games in two seasons at this degree for Norwich. Buendía ended on the profitable facet in 71% of his Championship appearances, additionally comfortably one of the best ratio of any participant with 50 or extra video games.
Stepping away from assists and searching deeper at gamers creating possibilities, one of the best ratio per 90 minutes by a participant since 2013-14 is Amine Bassi, who created 3.4 possibilities per 90 minutes for Barnsley in 2022. Following him is the very good Wes Hoolahan (3.3 per 90), Nathan Redmond (3.3) and Watford’s Giorgi Chakvetadze (3.2), earlier than we get to Buendía once more (3.1).
Placing a bigger parameter of a minimum of 10,000 minutes performed to take a look at gamers who spent a substantial time within the Championship since 2013-14, Pablo Hernández tops the charts, creating a median of three possibilities each time he performed for Leeds United, along with his teammates changing these into 37 assists for the Spaniard.
Though 15 gamers have extra open-play assists since 2013-14 than Tom Cairney, he has been probably the most artistic participant in open play by possibilities created in that point, a complete of 427, which is 45 away from anybody else. Cairney created 109 possibilities in open play within the 2016-17 season, the one time a participant has topped 100 in open play in a season that Opta has on file.
Bayern Munich had been clearly wanting nearer at Omar Richards’ underlying numbers than his assists when he performed for Studying – Richards didn’t help a objective within the Championship regardless of creating 51 possibilities for his teammates, a file since 2013-14 for a participant with out an help. In a single season, George Saville stays probably the most unlucky participant to not register an help within the 2022-23 marketing campaign, creating 49 possibilities with none being transformed. Certainly, Saville is the one participant to create 30 or extra possibilities with out an help in two completely different seasons since 2013-14, additionally creating 40 in 2018-19 with nothing to point out for it on the help board.
Half IV: The Unfortunates
Spare a thought for poor Michael Proctor. In a 2003 Premier League recreation for Sunderland, he had the unlucky luck to attain two personal objectives that benefitted opponents Charlton, turning into simply the second participant to take action in a Premier League match. By the beginning of 2004-05, Proctor had signed for Rotherham United, the place he would play 28 occasions and finish on the profitable facet solely as soon as, a 1-0 win over Leeds in November 2004.
General, 3,006 gamers have performed 20 or extra Championship video games since 2004-05 and Proctor has the worst win ratio of any of them (3.6%). At the very least he by no means scored a Championship personal objective.
Two of Proctor’s 2004-05 teammates didn’t even finish on the profitable facet throughout 35 video games between them and maintain the highest two highest totals of Championship appearances with out a win. Darren Garner performed 18 occasions and Richard Barker performed 17 with out that includes in a Millers victory, with the latter’s final look that marketing campaign coming in the identical month Proctor gained his one recreation in opposition to Leeds in November 2004. They did a minimum of keep away from defeat, which is greater than each Pavol Šuhaj and Nicolai Brock-Madsen managed of their spells at Crewe and Birmingham respectively – six Championship appearances and 6 defeats.
Two gamers have misplaced in 11 consecutive Championship appearances, a joint file. Between November 2016 and January 2017, Bristol Metropolis misplaced 11 out of 12 matches within the Championship. Joe Bryan missed the win over Ipswich however did play within the 11 defeats to set a file run of losses for a participant. This was later equalled by George Honeyman at Hull Metropolis, who misplaced his remaining six video games in 2019-20 (together with an 8-0 hammering at Wigan) after which first 5 of 2021-22 as newly promoted Hull re-joined the Championship after profitable League One.
personal objectives, solely three gamers have scored two personal objectives in a Championship match, the primary of which was Shane Duffy in August 2016 for Blackburn in opposition to Cardiff. Much more notably, Duffy then received himself despatched off within the recreation and had already scored an personal objective within the earlier recreation in opposition to Wigan, turning into simply the second participant to attain personal objectives in consecutive appearances, after Colchester’s Philip Ifil in March 2008. They had been Duffy’s final two Championship appearances for Blackburn earlier than he moved to Brighton, though not his remaining personal objective, scoring one in opposition to Leeds for Norwich final October, taking his personal objective tally to 4.
4 will not be the best tally of personal objectives by a participant throughout the 20 years of the Championship, nevertheless. That tally of six is shared by two gamers: Tom Lees and Mark Hudson.
On the proper finish of the pitch, Lees scored 18 and Hudson scored 25, so a minimum of they’re in optimistic goalscoring territory. Two outfield gamers have a minus three objective distinction of personal objectives to objectives – Angus MacDonald (5 personal objectives, two objectives) and Sam Hird (4 personal objectives, one objective), with MacDonald scoring three of these in the identical season (2016-17), degree for probably the most that season with a sure Shane Duffy.
Yaya Sanogo is properly remembered for his time at Arsenal and for being an important signing on Soccer Supervisor 2012 however he did additionally rating a Championship hat-trick for Charlton in February 2016, which is notable for 2 causes. He’s each the only real participant to attain his solely Championship objectives as a part of a hat-trick whereas additionally being the primary participant to attain a hat-trick and find yourself on the shedding facet (Studying gained 4-3). Sanogo had 16 different goalless Championship appearances, 9 of which got here for Huddersfield City on the again finish of the 2020-21 marketing campaign.
Chris Coyne was an unfortunate attraction for Luton City and Colchester United, netting in 4 matches and ending on the shedding facet every time (three for the Hatters, one for the U’s), with all 4 video games misplaced by a one-goal margin. Anthony Wordsworth could share his surname with a well-known Poet Laureate, however his objectives weren’t poetry for Ipswich or Rotherham, scoring in three matches and shedding all three.
The file for video games scored in with out profitable can be held by – you’ve in all probability guessed it – a former Rotherham participant, with Jon Taylor netting in seven video games between 2016 and 2019 however profitable none, drawing 4 and shedding three, a Championship file.
Half V: The Future Stars
It’s value ending on a excessive observe – the gamers who appeared within the Championship earlier than then showing within the pinnacle of European soccer, the UEFA Champions League remaining. General, 21 completely different gamers have achieved this feat and a type of scored, memorably, in two completely different finals.
Gareth Bale performed 41 video games within the Championship for Southampton, scoring his first objective within the competitors aged 17 years and 21 days in opposition to Derby County in August 2006. His remaining look was within the semi-final of the play-offs that marketing campaign, additionally in opposition to Derby, earlier than he left for Tottenham Hotspur. Bale would then rating within the 2014 and 2018 Champions League finals for Actual Madrid, however it began within the Championship in April 2006 in opposition to Millwall.
Two gamers performed over 100 video games within the Championship earlier than happening to play within the Champions League remaining – Kieran Trippier made 174 appearances for Barnsley and Burnley between 2010 and 2014 earlier than enjoying within the Premier League and ultimately within the remaining of Champions League in 2019 for Spurs. Ryan Bertrand performed for Norwich, Studying and Nottingham Forest within the Championship on mortgage between 2008 and 2010 earlier than making his Champions League debut within the 2012 remaining for Chelsea in opposition to Bayern Munich, the one participant within the historical past of the competitors to make his debut within the remaining of the UCL.
Others to make their manner by way of the Championship earlier than enjoying in a Champions League remaining are Harry Kane (37 video games and 9 objectives at Millwall and Leicester), Diogo Jota (17 objectives in 44 Championship video games for Wolves), Riyad Mahrez (3 objectives and 4 assists for Leicester in 2014), Jack Grealish (14 objectives and 15 assists for Aston Villa) and John Stones (24 video games for Barnsley). Ian Maatsen performed 79 video games for Coventry and Burnley and made his final look within the Clarets’ remaining recreation of 2022-23 earlier than enjoying within the Champions League remaining in June 2024 for Borussia Dortmund, a spot of simply 390 days, the smallest hole of any participant and an unimaginable rise in such a brief area of time.
Going through Maatsen in that remaining was a sure Jude Bellingham. Not many had been satisfied when Birmingham retired Bellingham’s shirt quantity after he left the membership on the finish of the 2019-20 season for Dortmund. Nevertheless, by 2024 he was enjoying and profitable a Champions League remaining for Actual Madrid, coincidentally in opposition to Dortmund.
Earlier than all that, Bellingham grew to become the youngest scorer in Championship historical past (16 years, 63 days in opposition to Stoke Metropolis in August 2019) and made 41 appearances for a facet that completed twentieth within the division. The England worldwide has performed extra video games (34) and minutes (2,242) than every other participant in Championship historical past earlier than their seventeenth birthday, a file that would take some beating.
Bellingham’s remaining Championship look was in July 2020 in opposition to Derby. Enjoying alongside him, additionally in his final ever Championship recreation, nearly 16 years on from enjoying his first for Derby in August 2004? Lee Camp, after all.
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