2025–26 English Football League
The 2025–26 English Football League is the 127th season of the English Football League (EFL) and the ninth season under that name after it was renamed from The Football League in 2016. For the 13th season, the league is sponsored by Sky Betting & Gaming and is therefore known as the Sky Bet EFL.
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2025–26 English Football League
The 2025–26 English Football League is the 127th season of the English Football League (EFL) and the ninth season under that name after it was renamed from The Football League in 2016. For the 13th season, the league is sponsored by Sky Betting & Gaming and is therefore known as the Sky Bet EFL.
The EFL is contested through three divisions: the Championship, League One and League Two. The winner and the runner up of the Championship are automatically promoted to the Premier League and they are joined by the winner of the Championship playoff. The bottom two teams in League Two are relegated to the National League.
Championship
Table
<table><thead><tr><th>Pos</th><th>Team</th><th>Pld</th><th>W</th><th>D</th><th>L</th><th>GF</th><th>GA</th><th>GD</th><th>Pts</th><th>Promotion, qualification or relegation</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>Coventry City</td><td>35</td><td>21</td><td>8</td><td>6</td><td>72</td><td>38</td><td>+34</td><td>71</td><td>Promotion to the Premier League</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Middlesbrough</td><td>34</td><td>18</td><td>9</td><td>7</td><td>51</td><td>34</td><td>+17</td><td>63</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Millwall</td><td>35</td><td>18</td><td>8</td><td>9</td><td>47</td><td>40</td><td>+7</td><td>62</td><td>Qualification for the Championship play-offs</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Ipswich Town</td><td>33</td><td>17</td><td>9</td><td>7</td><td>59</td><td>34</td><td>+25</td><td>60</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Hull City</td><td>34</td><td>18</td><td>6</td><td>10</td><td>56</td><td>48</td><td>+8</td><td>60</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Wrexham</td><td>35</td><td>15</td><td>12</td><td>8</td><td>54</td><td>45</td><td>+9</td><td>57</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>Southampton</td><td>35</td><td>14</td><td>11</td><td>10</td><td>57</td><td>46</td><td>+11</td><td>53</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>Derby County</td><td>35</td><td>14</td><td>9</td><td>12</td><td>52</td><td>46</td><td>+6</td><td>51</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>Watford</td><td>35</td><td>13</td><td>12</td><td>10</td><td>45</td><td>41</td><td>+4</td><td>51</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>Bristol City</td><td>35</td><td>14</td><td>8</td><td>13</td><td>48</td><td>44</td><td>+4</td><td>50</td></tr><tr><td>11</td><td>Birmingham City</td><td>34</td><td>13</td><td>10</td><td>11</td><td>45</td><td>43</td><td>+2</td><td>49</td></tr><tr><td>12</td><td>Preston North End</td><td>35</td><td>12</td><td>13</td><td>10</td><td>41</td><td>40</td><td>+1</td><td>49</td></tr><tr><td>13</td><td>Sheffield United</td><td>35</td><td>15</td><td>3</td><td>17</td><td>50</td><td>48</td><td>+2</td><td>48</td></tr><tr><td>14</td><td>Stoke City</td><td>35</td><td>13</td><td>8</td><td>14</td><td>39</td><td>34</td><td>+5</td><td>47</td></tr><tr><td>15</td><td>Queens Park Rangers</td><td>35</td><td>13</td><td>8</td><td>14</td><td>46</td><td>54</td><td>−8</td><td>47</td></tr><tr><td>16</td><td>Swansea City</td><td>35</td><td>13</td><td>7</td><td>15</td><td>40</td><td>43</td><td>−3</td><td>46</td></tr><tr><td>17</td><td>Norwich City</td><td>35</td><td>13</td><td>6</td><td>16</td><td>47</td><td>44</td><td>+3</td><td>45</td></tr><tr><td>18</td><td>Charlton Athletic</td><td>35</td><td>10</td><td>11</td><td>14</td><td>33</td><td>44</td><td>−11</td><td>41</td></tr><tr><td>19</td><td>Portsmouth</td><td>34</td><td>10</td><td>9</td><td>15</td><td>34</td><td>44</td><td>−10</td><td>39</td></tr><tr><td>20</td><td>Blackburn Rovers</td><td>35</td><td>10</td><td>8</td><td>17</td><td>33</td><td>46</td><td>−13</td><td>38</td></tr><tr><td>21</td><td>West Bromwich Albion</td><td>35</td><td>9</td><td>8</td><td>18</td><td>34</td><td>52</td><td>−18</td><td>35</td></tr><tr><td>22</td><td>Leicester City</td><td>35</td><td>10</td><td>10</td><td>15</td><td>47</td><td>56</td><td>−9</td><td>34</td><td>Relegation to EFL League One</td></tr><tr><td>23</td><td>Oxford United</td><td>35</td><td>7</td><td>11</td><td>17</td><td>31</td><td>47</td><td>−16</td><td>32</td></tr><tr><td>24</td><td>Sheffield Wednesday (R)</td><td>35</td><td>1</td><td>8</td><td>26</td><td>21</td><td>71</td><td>−50</td><td>−7</td></tr></tbody></table>
League One
Table
<table><thead><tr><th>Pos</th><th>Team</th><th>Pld</th><th>W</th><th>D</th><th>L</th><th>GF</th><th>GA</th><th>GD</th><th>Pts</th><th>Promotion, qualification or relegation</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>Cardiff City</td><td>34</td><td>22</td><td>6</td><td>6</td><td>68</td><td>36</td><td>+32</td><td>72</td><td>Promotion to EFL Championship</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Lincoln City</td><td>34</td><td>21</td><td>8</td><td>5</td><td>63</td><td>31</td><td>+32</td><td>71</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Bolton Wanderers</td><td>35</td><td>16</td><td>13</td><td>6</td><td>50</td><td>34</td><td>+16</td><td>61</td><td>Qualification for League One play-offs</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Bradford City</td><td>34</td><td>17</td><td>7</td><td>10</td><td>43</td><td>38</td><td>+5</td><td>58</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Stockport County</td><td>34</td><td>16</td><td>8</td><td>10</td><td>47</td><td>43</td><td>+4</td><td>56</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Huddersfield Town</td><td>35</td><td>15</td><td>7</td><td>13</td><td>55</td><td>46</td><td>+9</td><td>52</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>Reading</td><td>34</td><td>13</td><td>12</td><td>9</td><td>50</td><td>44</td><td>+6</td><td>51</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>Stevenage</td><td>33</td><td>14</td><td>9</td><td>10</td><td>37</td><td>35</td><td>+2</td><td>51</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>Wycombe Wanderers</td><td>34</td><td>13</td><td>11</td><td>10</td><td>49</td><td>36</td><td>+13</td><td>50</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>Luton Town</td><td>34</td><td>13</td><td>8</td><td>13</td><td>43</td><td>41</td><td>+2</td><td>47</td></tr><tr><td>11</td><td>Peterborough United</td><td>35</td><td>14</td><td>4</td><td>17</td><td>50</td><td>49</td><td>+1</td><td>46</td></tr><tr><td>12</td><td>Plymouth Argyle</td><td>34</td><td>14</td><td>4</td><td>16</td><td>49</td><td>50</td><td>−1</td><td>46</td></tr><tr><td>13</td><td>Barnsley</td><td>31</td><td>12</td><td>8</td><td>11</td><td>53</td><td>53</td><td>0</td><td>44</td></tr><tr><td>14</td><td>AFC Wimbledon</td><td>33</td><td>12</td><td>7</td><td>14</td><td>41</td><td>48</td><td>−7</td><td>43</td></tr><tr><td>15</td><td>Exeter City</td><td>33</td><td>11</td><td>8</td><td>14</td><td>38</td><td>39</td><td>−1</td><td>41</td></tr><tr><td>16</td><td>Mansfield Town</td><td>32</td><td>10</td><td>10</td><td>12</td><td>39</td><td>37</td><td>+2</td><td>40</td></tr><tr><td>17</td><td>Burton Albion</td><td>34</td><td>10</td><td>9</td><td>15</td><td>38</td><td>49</td><td>−11</td><td>39</td></tr><tr><td>18</td><td>Doncaster Rovers</td><td>33</td><td>11</td><td>6</td><td>16</td><td>36</td><td>55</td><td>−19</td><td>39</td></tr><tr><td>19</td><td>Wigan Athletic</td><td>33</td><td>9</td><td>10</td><td>14</td><td>35</td><td>46</td><td>−11</td><td>37</td></tr><tr><td>20</td><td>Blackpool</td><td>34</td><td>10</td><td>7</td><td>17</td><td>40</td><td>54</td><td>−14</td><td>37</td></tr><tr><td>21</td><td>Leyton Orient</td><td>33</td><td>10</td><td>6</td><td>17</td><td>44</td><td>56</td><td>−12</td><td>36</td><td>Relegation to EFL League Two</td></tr><tr><td>22</td><td>Northampton Town</td><td>35</td><td>9</td><td>8</td><td>18</td><td>31</td><td>47</td><td>−16</td><td>35</td></tr><tr><td>23</td><td>Rotherham United</td><td>33</td><td>9</td><td>7</td><td>17</td><td>33</td><td>47</td><td>−14</td><td>34</td></tr><tr><td>24</td><td>Port Vale</td><td>32</td><td>6</td><td>9</td><td>17</td><td>26</td><td>44</td><td>−18</td><td>27</td></tr></tbody></table>
League Two
Table
<table><thead><tr><th>Pos</th><th>Team</th><th>Pld</th><th>W</th><th>D</th><th>L</th><th>GF</th><th>GA</th><th>GD</th><th>Pts</th><th>Promotion, qualification or relegation</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>Bromley</td><td>34</td><td>19</td><td>11</td><td>4</td><td>58</td><td>35</td><td>+23</td><td>68</td><td>Promotion to EFL League One</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Cambridge United</td><td>34</td><td>18</td><td>10</td><td>6</td><td>49</td><td>27</td><td>+22</td><td>64</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Milton Keynes Dons</td><td>34</td><td>17</td><td>11</td><td>6</td><td>63</td><td>34</td><td>+29</td><td>62</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Swindon Town</td><td>35</td><td>19</td><td>5</td><td>11</td><td>57</td><td>41</td><td>+16</td><td>62</td><td>Qualification for League Two play-offs</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Notts County</td><td>34</td><td>18</td><td>7</td><td>9</td><td>52</td><td>33</td><td>+19</td><td>61</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Crewe Alexandra</td><td>35</td><td>16</td><td>8</td><td>11</td><td>52</td><td>41</td><td>+11</td><td>56</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>Salford City</td><td>33</td><td>17</td><td>4</td><td>12</td><td>46</td><td>43</td><td>+3</td><td>55</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>Chesterfield</td><td>34</td><td>13</td><td>14</td><td>7</td><td>52</td><td>44</td><td>+8</td><td>53</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>Barnet</td><td>35</td><td>14</td><td>11</td><td>10</td><td>44</td><td>37</td><td>+7</td><td>53</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>Walsall</td><td>33</td><td>15</td><td>8</td><td>10</td><td>42</td><td>36</td><td>+6</td><td>53</td></tr><tr><td>11</td><td>Grimsby Town</td><td>33</td><td>14</td><td>10</td><td>9</td><td>46</td><td>37</td><td>+9</td><td>52</td></tr><tr><td>12</td><td>Colchester United</td><td>33</td><td>13</td><td>10</td><td>10</td><td>48</td><td>35</td><td>+13</td><td>49</td></tr><tr><td>13</td><td>Accrington Stanley</td><td>34</td><td>13</td><td>7</td><td>14</td><td>37</td><td>36</td><td>+1</td><td>46</td></tr><tr><td>14</td><td>Oldham Athletic</td><td>32</td><td>11</td><td>12</td><td>9</td><td>36</td><td>30</td><td>+6</td><td>45</td></tr><tr><td>15</td><td>Fleetwood Town</td><td>33</td><td>12</td><td>9</td><td>12</td><td>43</td><td>42</td><td>+1</td><td>45</td></tr><tr><td>16</td><td>Gillingham</td><td>33</td><td>11</td><td>11</td><td>11</td><td>41</td><td>41</td><td>0</td><td>44</td></tr><tr><td>17</td><td>Shrewsbury Town</td><td>35</td><td>10</td><td>8</td><td>17</td><td>34</td><td>54</td><td>−20</td><td>38</td></tr><tr><td>18</td><td>Cheltenham Town</td><td>33</td><td>10</td><td>6</td><td>17</td><td>34</td><td>55</td><td>−21</td><td>36</td></tr><tr><td>19</td><td>Tranmere Rovers</td><td>34</td><td>9</td><td>8</td><td>17</td><td>46</td><td>59</td><td>−13</td><td>35</td></tr><tr><td>20</td><td>Bristol Rovers</td><td>34</td><td>9</td><td>4</td><td>21</td><td>33</td><td>57</td><td>−24</td><td>31</td></tr><tr><td>21</td><td>Crawley Town</td><td>35</td><td>6</td><td>10</td><td>19</td><td>33</td><td>56</td><td>−23</td><td>28</td></tr><tr><td>22</td><td>Barrow</td><td>33</td><td>7</td><td>6</td><td>20</td><td>33</td><td>51</td><td>−18</td><td>27</td></tr><tr><td>23</td><td>Harrogate Town</td><td>35</td><td>6</td><td>9</td><td>20</td><td>25</td><td>52</td><td>−27</td><td>27</td><td>Relegation to National League</td></tr><tr><td>24</td><td>Newport County</td><td>34</td><td>6</td><td>7</td><td>21</td><td>32</td><td>60</td><td>−28</td><td>25</td></tr></tbody></table>
Managerial changes
2025–26 English Football League
<table><thead><tr><th>Team</th><th>Outgoing manager</th><th>Manner of departure</th><th>Date of vacancy</th><th>Position in table</th><th>Incoming manager</th><th>Date of appointment</th><th>Position in table</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Huddersfield Town</td><td>Michael Duff</td><td>Sacked</td><td>9 March 2025</td><td>2024–25 English Football League</td><td>Lee Grant</td><td>28 May 2025</td><td>Pre-season</td></tr><tr><td>Southampton</td><td>Ivan Jurić</td><td>Mutual consent</td><td>7 April 2025</td><td>2024–25 Premier League</td><td>Will Still</td><td>25 May 2025</td></tr><tr><td>Cardiff City</td><td>Omer Riza</td><td>Sacked</td><td>19 April 2025</td><td>2024–25 English Football League</td><td>Brian Barry-Murphy</td><td>16 June 2025</td></tr><tr><td>West Bromwich Albion</td><td>Tony Mowbray</td><td>21 April 2025</td><td>Ryan Mason</td><td>2 June 2025</td></tr><tr><td>Norwich City</td><td>Johannes Hoff Thorup</td><td>22 April 2025</td><td>Liam Manning</td><td>3 June 2025</td></tr><tr><td>Newport County</td><td>Nelson Jardim</td><td>Mutual consent</td><td>24 April 2025</td><td>David Hughes</td><td>23 May 2025</td></tr><tr><td>Bristol Rovers</td><td>Iñigo Calderón</td><td>Sacked</td><td>4 May 2025</td><td>Pre-season</td><td>Darrell Clarke</td><td>6 May 2025</td></tr><tr><td>Watford</td><td>Tom Cleverley</td><td>6 May 2025</td><td>Paulo Pezzolano</td><td>13 May 2025</td></tr><tr><td>Hull City</td><td>Rubén Sellés</td><td>15 May 2025</td><td>Sergej Jakirović</td><td>11 June 2025</td></tr><tr><td>Notts County</td><td>Stuart Maynard</td><td>22 May 2025</td><td>Martin Paterson</td><td>22 June 2025</td></tr><tr><td>Plymouth Argyle</td><td>Miron Muslić</td><td>Signed by Schalke 04</td><td>31 May 2025</td><td>Tom Cleverley</td><td>13 June 2025</td></tr><tr><td>Bristol City</td><td>Liam Manning</td><td>Signed by Norwich City</td><td>3 June 2025</td><td>Gerhard Struber</td><td>19 June 2025</td></tr><tr><td>Middlesbrough</td><td>Michael Carrick</td><td>Sacked</td><td>4 June 2025</td><td>Rob Edwards</td><td>24 June 2025</td></tr><tr><td>Sheffield United</td><td>Chris Wilder</td><td>Mutual consent</td><td>18 June 2025</td><td>Rubén Sellés</td><td>18 June 2025</td></tr><tr><td>Queens Park Rangers</td><td>Martí Cifuentes</td><td>24 June 2025</td><td>Julien Stéphan</td><td>25 June 2025</td></tr><tr><td>Leicester City</td><td>Ruud van Nistelrooy</td><td>27 June 2025</td><td>Martí Cifuentes</td><td>15 July 2025</td></tr><tr><td>Sheffield Wednesday</td><td>Danny Röhl</td><td>29 July 2025</td><td>Henrik Pedersen</td><td>31 July 2025</td></tr><tr><td>Sheffield United</td><td>Rubén Sellés</td><td>Sacked</td><td>14 September 2025</td><td>24th</td><td>Chris Wilder</td><td>15 September 2025</td><td>24th</td></tr><tr><td>Wycombe Wanderers</td><td>Mike Dodds</td><td>18 September 2025</td><td>19th</td><td>Michael Duff</td><td>18 September 2025</td><td>19th</td></tr><tr><td>Cheltenham Town</td><td>Michael Flynn</td><td>20 September 2025</td><td>24th</td><td>Steve Cotterill</td><td>30 September 2025</td><td>24th</td></tr><tr><td>Blackpool</td><td>Steve Bruce</td><td>4 October 2025</td><td>23rd</td><td>Ian Evatt</td><td>21 October 2025</td><td>24th</td></tr><tr><td>Luton Town</td><td>Matt Bloomfield</td><td>6 October 2025</td><td>11th</td><td>Jack Wilshere</td><td>13 October 2025</td><td>11th</td></tr><tr><td>Watford</td><td>Paulo Pezzolano</td><td>8 October 2025</td><td>11th</td><td>Javi Gracia</td><td>8 October 2025</td><td>11th</td></tr><tr><td>Peterborough United</td><td>Darren Ferguson</td><td>25 October 2025</td><td>24th</td><td>Luke Williams</td><td>29 October 2025</td><td>24th</td></tr><tr><td>Reading</td><td>Noel Hunt</td><td>26 October 2025</td><td>19th</td><td>Leam Richardson</td><td>28 October 2025</td><td>19th</td></tr><tr><td>Southampton</td><td>Will Still</td><td>2 November 2025</td><td>21st</td><td>Tonda Eckert</td><td>12 November 2025</td><td>21st</td></tr><tr><td>Norwich City</td><td>Liam Manning</td><td>8 November 2025</td><td>23rd</td><td>Philippe Clement</td><td>18 November 2025</td><td>23rd</td></tr><tr><td>Swansea City</td><td>Alan Sheehan</td><td>11 November 2025</td><td>18th</td><td>Vítor Matos</td><td>24 November 2025</td><td>20th</td></tr><tr><td>Middlesbrough</td><td>Rob Edwards</td><td>Signed by Wolverhampton Wanderers</td><td>12 November 2025</td><td>2nd</td><td>Kim Hellberg</td><td>2nd</td></tr><tr><td>Newport County</td><td>David Hughes</td><td>Sacked</td><td>15 November 2025</td><td>24th</td><td>Christian Fuchs</td><td>20 November 2025</td><td>24th</td></tr><tr><td>Barrow</td><td>Andy Whing</td><td>10 December 2025</td><td>18th</td><td>Paul Gallagher</td><td>2 January 2026</td><td>19th</td></tr><tr><td>Bristol Rovers</td><td>Darrell Clarke</td><td>13 December 2025</td><td>23rd</td><td>Steve Evans</td><td>16 December 2025</td><td>23rd</td></tr><tr><td>Oxford United</td><td>Gary Rowett</td><td>23 December 2025</td><td>22nd</td><td>Matt Bloomfield</td><td>9 January 2026</td><td>23rd</td></tr><tr><td>Port Vale</td><td>Darren Moore</td><td>28 December 2025</td><td>24th</td><td>Jon Brady</td><td>6 January 2026</td><td>24th</td></tr><tr><td>West Bromwich Albion</td><td>Ryan Mason</td><td>6 January 2026</td><td>18th</td><td>Eric Ramsay</td><td>11 January 2026</td><td>18th</td></tr><tr><td>Huddersfield Town</td><td>Lee Grant</td><td>17 January 2026</td><td>6th</td><td>Liam Manning</td><td>20 January 2026</td><td>6th</td></tr><tr><td>Leicester City</td><td>Martí Cifuentes</td><td>25 January 2026</td><td>14th</td><td>Gary Rowett</td><td>18 February 2026</td><td>22nd</td></tr><tr><td>Fleetwood Town</td><td>Pete Wild</td><td>25 January 2026</td><td>15th</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Shrewsbury Town</td><td>Michael Appleton</td><td>Mutual consent</td><td>28 January 2026</td><td>21st</td><td>Gavin Cowan</td><td>29 January 2026</td><td>21st</td></tr><tr><td>Watford</td><td>Javi Gracia</td><td>Resigned</td><td>1 February 2026</td><td>10th</td><td>Edward Still</td><td>9 February 2026</td><td>11th</td></tr><tr><td>Blackburn Rovers</td><td>Valérien Ismaël</td><td>Mutual consent</td><td>2 February 2026</td><td>22nd</td><td>Michael O'Neill</td><td>13 February 2026</td><td>22nd</td></tr><tr><td>Wigan Athletic</td><td>Ryan Lowe</td><td>Sacked</td><td>7 February 2026</td><td>22nd</td><td>Gary Caldwell</td><td>16 February 2026</td><td>22nd</td></tr><tr><td>Barrow</td><td>Paul Gallagher</td><td>11 February 2026</td><td>22nd</td><td>Dino Maamria</td><td>11 February 2026</td><td>22nd</td></tr><tr><td>Exeter City</td><td>Gary Caldwell</td><td>Signed by Wigan Athletic</td><td>16 February 2026</td><td>14th</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>West Bromwich Albion</td><td>Eric Ramsay</td><td>Sacked</td><td>24 February 2026</td><td>21st</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>