Foreign coaches in the Championship are increasingly targeting England’s second tier as a route to the Premier League, with eight of the division’s clubs currently led by managers from continental Europe.
The Championship remains largely shaped by coaches from the British Isles, who account for 16 of its 24 clubs. But the appeal of packed stadiums, financial opportunity and the prospect of promotion has drawn managers from Belgium, Italy, France, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland and Portugal.
The current overseas contingent includes Fabio Celestini at Burnley, Kim Hellberg at Middlesbrough, Philippe Clement at Norwich, Julien Stephan at Queens Park Rangers, Tonda Eckert at Southampton, Vitor Matos at Swansea, Alessio Dionisi at Watford and Cesar Peixoto at Wolves.
All eight are managing in English football for the first time. Their arrival reflects a growing belief among coaches abroad that success in the Championship can provide a more direct route to the top flight than attempting to secure one of the limited opportunities available in England’s lower leagues.
The Championship’s appeal to overseas coaches
Portuguese coach Vitor Campelos is among those assessing the possibilities. Having coached three teams in Portugal’s top division and won the title in Slovenia earlier this year, he has received offers at home and abroad but travelled to watch matches in England and Scotland as he considered his next move.
Campelos studied the tactical detail closely during visits to Championship fixtures. At Bristol City, he praised Wolves’ shape while believing they could have produced more rotations. He was also impressed by Scott Twine’s free-kick and described how he encouraged his own players to create set-piece routines themselves.
“They are so much more engaged when it is their own idea,” Campelos said.
At Pride Park, he observed Bolton moving Derby around the pitch and highlighted the space available to Ruben Rodrigues in the half-spaces. Rodrigues scored soon afterwards, but Derby eventually recovered to win 3-1 despite having only 30 per cent possession.
The match also offered a measure of the Championship’s scale. A crowd of 27,536 watched Derby, who had been without a win in 10 games, while Bolton brought 3,000 supporters to the evening kick-off. Derby are 43rd in the English football pyramid but would rank as the fourth-best supported club in Portugal by a considerable margin.
For coaches such as Campelos, that combination of tactical challenge, regular exposure and intense support is a significant attraction. The division’s crowds can provide an environment that is difficult to replicate elsewhere in Europe’s second tiers.
From English football to the Premier League
Miron Muslic, now in charge of Schalke, retains particularly strong memories of his spell at Plymouth Argyle. He said players regularly asked him about the Championship and urged them to experience English football.
“You have to experience this. You guys have to go to England and sign for, hopefully a Premier League club, but if not Premier League then the Championship, because the football is just pure. And I love the atmosphere,” Muslic said.
He recalled the immediate reaction inside English grounds when a goal is scored, describing the first roar from the crowd as something unique. German stadiums, he felt, could offer more organised choreography and sustained chanting, whereas English supporters were more likely to respond spontaneously to events on the pitch.
“The guys at Plymouth, they celebrated a tackle. And one aerial duel and we smashed the ball over there and everybody was like, ‘Yeah, ******* hell!’ That is typically English,” Muslic said.
Muslic was unable to prevent Plymouth’s relegation after taking over from Wayne Rooney in difficult circumstances, but an FA Cup victory over Liverpool helped strengthen his reputation. He subsequently moved to Schalke and is now working in the Bundesliga.
Sergej Jakirovic provides a more direct example of the Championship acting as a springboard to the Premier League. Hull City had only just avoided relegation before he arrived, yet he guided them to promotion through the play-offs and secured a top-flight managerial position.
“I do not know too many coaches who start like I do, in the academy, and then step by step, you come here. Mr Acun gave me my opportunity and then with this promotion, you are now in the Premier League,” Jakirovic said.
He added: “It is a big privilege and I am very proud of this, my journey. It is not easy to get the chance, to get the job, especially from my country. But you have to use your moments also, your opportunity.”
Although overseas coaches make up only one third of the Championship’s managers, they account for five of the division’s top eight. That record suggests that coaches arriving from abroad are not merely adding variety to the competition but are also making a significant impact.
Brexit regulations remain a complication for those seeking work in England, but the progress of managers such as Jakirovic has shown that the opportunity can be decisive. Campelos, whose Celje side was ranked 26th among more than 1,000 clubs across 68 leagues in a CIES Football Observatory assessment of the ability to dictate games, is among the coaches waiting for his own chance.
For ambitious managers, the Championship now represents both a demanding competition and a proven route towards the Premier League. Its atmosphere, visibility and promotion stakes continue to draw candidates from across Europe.
