Ranking all seven Championship managerial appointments so far this summer, one could end in disaster

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There have been several changes to second tier dugouts so far following the conclusion of the 2024/25 Championship campaign. Will they prove to be masterstroke moves or disastrous decisions?

With the 2025/26 Championship campaign still two months away, the 24 teams making up next season’s second tier table are preparing throughout the summer transfer window.

So far in June, there have been a handful of high-profile managerial moves, ranging from clubs that flirted with relegation last season to play-off contenders.

The cut-throat nature of Championship football means that each of the new head coach arrivals will have to be successful within their maiden campaigns in their respective dugouts.

Here, EFL Analysis dissects and ranks all the managerial appointments in the Championship so far this summer.

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Ranking all Championship managerial appointments so far this summer

Football is a game of opinions, and that is the beauty of the beautiful game, but here is how we see each of the managerial moves so far this summer in the second tier.

Rob Edwards to Middlesbrough – 6/10

Starting with the most recent change first, Rob Edwards was appointed by Middlesbrough to replace Michael Carrick, after the Manchester United legend was sacked for failing to achieve a top-six spot last term.

In Edwards’ first statement as Boro boss, he explained his excitement at the role, which is understandable given the plethora of talent that the Teessiders’ squad yields, highlighted by the fact that Premier League West Ham are targeting Hayden Hackney.

Edwards’ history as Luton Town boss bears mixed fortunes, after he masterminded their promotion to the Premier League, but similarly played a major hand in their eventual successive relegations to League One.

With fears over Edwards’ style of play for Boro, and his win rate as a manager being lower than predecessor Carrick’s, the Welshman must prove he is an upgrade on Carrick in his maiden Middlesbrough campaign.

Liam Manning to Norwich City – 9/10

Following the 2024/25 Championship play-offs, former Bristol City boss Liam Manning was appointed by Norwich to spearhead the Canaries’ top-six charge next season.

After Norwich registered interest in Manning, they beat a handful of Championship rivals to his signature, in a major statement of intent for the coming campaign.

Manning took over at Ashton Gate in November 2023, and won 28 of his 82 games in charge.

His first full season at the helm may have culminated in defeat to Sheffield United in the Championship play-off semi-finals, but Manning proved his calibre as a head coach to mastermind the Robins’ best finish since 2007/08 with limited resources.

Norwich are obvious play-off contenders for next season now, thanks to their summer business, and the acquisition of one of the division’s best young coaches could propel the club back to the top flight.

Gerhard Struber to Bristol City – 6/10

Former Barnsley boss Gerhard Struber was appointed by Bristol City earlier in June to replace Manning.

Struber once called out the Barnsley owners for a lack of ambition during his only spell managing in the Championship, at the club he left with just a 36 percent win rate from 39 games in charge.

The former FC Koln head coach’s inexperience in the EFL compared to predecessor Manning’s could prove to be the major stumbling block for the Robins next term.

With veteran forward Nahki Wells’ Bristol City departure, Struber’s task has been made even more difficult.

Given the calibre of job Manning did at Ashton Gate, it will be surprising to see Struber do the same.

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Sergej Jakirovic to Hull City – 5/10

At Hull City, major managerial change has occurred this summer, after Hull sacked Ruben Selles in May to replace the Spaniard with new boss Sergej Jakirovic.

Jakirovic arrives from Turkish Super League outfit Kayserispor for his first spell in English football.

One Championship expert was stunned by Jakirovic’s appointment, labelling the decision to sack Selles and appoint the Bosnian a “mad” decision, given how influential Selles was in the Tigers’ survival from League One relegation last season.

Hull fans were enraged over Selles’ sacking last month, and many of the Tigers faithful are fearing the worst over relegation in Jakirovic’s debut season in charge due to his EFL inexperience and the highly-rated reputation of Selles, who has since quickly been snapped up by Hull’s second tier rivals.

Ruben Selles to Sheffield United – 6/10

Shortly after his Hull sacking, Selles was appointed by Sheffield United in place of longstanding Blades boss Chris Wilder.

Wilder’s final game in charge of the Blades came in the Championship play-off final defeat to Sunderland, concluding his 78-game second spell in charge of Sheffield United in heartache.

Selles arrives at Bramall Lane with a glowing reference from Southampton, but he will have a thankless task on his hands to win over the Blades supporters after Wilder was axed.

Sheffield United fans labelled Wilder’s sacking “disgusting”, and the Spaniard must vindicate the Blades hierarchy’s bold decision in his first season in charge.

Given Wilder masterminded two promotions for his boyhood club, they will be sizable shoes to fill.

Ryan Mason to West Brom – 6/10

After veteran head coach Tony Mowbray was sacked by the Hawthorns hierarchy, West Brom appointed Ryan Mason, who concluded his coaching spell at former club Spurs with a Europa League victory.

Mason’s maiden season in charge of the Baggies will be the Englishman’s first full senior season in football management, signifying a new chapter at the club.

In a show of faith from his seniors, Mason has brought two new coaches with him from Spurs, and have made Nat Phillips their first summer signing in a major coup.

Mason knows what’s needed to be successful at the club, but given that Mowbray was sacked for failing to achieve a top-six place, the pressure is palpable for Mason in his debut management campaign.

The Baggies faithful will be concerned as to whether the inexperienced head coach will crack.

• READ MORE: Ryan Mason’s priorities at West Brom include Spurs ‘advantage’ as summer transfer window plans revealed

Paulo Pezzolano to Watford – 7/10

After Tom Cleverley was sacked by the Hornets hierarchy, Watford named Paulo Pezzolano as their new manager.

Although Cleverley’s sacking was controversial, Watford have shown they mean business this summer, and have therefore been tipped as favourites for a play-off place next season.

Pezzolano has inherited a squad brimming with talent that underperformed massively last season, which has been bolstered significantly with Watford’s purchase of Hector Kyprianou.

Even better for the Hornets faithful, the Uruguayan head coach has masterminded promotions in various leagues as a head coach.

He tasted title victory with Torque in 2017, led Cruzeiro to promotion in 2022, and achieved promotion with Valladolid back to the Spanish top tier in 2024.

All of those factors point towards a successful first season in charge for Pezzolano at Vicarage Road in the 2025/26 Championship campaign.