The 2017–18 EFL Championship (referred to as the Sky Bet Championship for sponsorship reasons) was the second season of the EFL Championship under its current name, and the twenty-sixth season under its current league structure.

This season notably saw Sunderland become the first English team to be relegated in successive seasons from the top division to the third tier since the champions Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2012 and 2013, and only the third team to do so since the top division was relaunched as the Premier League in 1992.

Team changes

The following teams had changed division since the 2016–17 season.

To Championship

Promoted from League One

Relegated from Premier League

From Championship

Relegated to League One

Promoted to Premier League

Stadiums

2017–18 EFL Championship is located in England
Locations of the 2017–18 Football League Championship teams
2017–18 EFL Championship is located in Greater London
Greater London Championship football clubs
TeamLocationStadiumCapacity
Aston VillaBirminghamVilla Park42,790
BarnsleyBarnsleyOakwell23,009
Birmingham CityBirminghamSt Andrew's30,015
Bolton WanderersBoltonMacron Stadium28,723
BrentfordLondon (Brentford)Griffin Park12,300
Bristol CityBristolAshton Gate27,000
Burton AlbionBurton upon TrentPirelli Stadium6,912
Cardiff CityCardiffCardiff City Stadium33,300
Derby CountyDerbyPride Park Stadium33,600
FulhamLondon (Fulham)Craven Cottage25,700
Hull CityKingston upon HullKCOM Stadium25,586
Ipswich TownIpswichPortman Road30,300
Leeds UnitedLeedsElland Road37,890
MiddlesbroughMiddlesbroughRiverside Stadium34,742
MillwallLondon (South Bermondsey)The Den20,146
Norwich CityNorwichCarrow Road27,220
Nottingham ForestNottinghamCity Ground30,445
Preston North EndPrestonDeepdale23,408
Queens Park RangersLondon (Shepherd's Bush)Loftus Road18,439
ReadingReadingMadejski Stadium24,161
Sheffield UnitedSheffieldBramall Lane32,702
Sheffield WednesdaySheffieldHillsborough Stadium39,752
SunderlandSunderlandStadium of Light49,000
Wolverhampton WanderersWolverhamptonMolineux31,700

Personnel and sponsoring

TeamManagerCaptainKit manufacturerSponsor
Aston VillaEngland Steve BruceEngland John TerryUnder ArmourUnibet
BarnsleyPortugal José MoraisGhana Andy Yiadom3PumaC.K. Beckett
Birmingham CityEngland Garry MonkEngland Michael MorrisonAdidas888sport
Bolton WanderersEngland Phil ParkinsonEngland Darren PratleyMacronBetfred
BrentfordEngland Dean SmithRepublic of Ireland John EganAdidasLeoVegas
Bristol CityEngland Lee JohnsonAustralia Bailey WrightBristol SportLancer Scott
Burton AlbionEngland Nigel CloughEngland Jake BuxtonTAGTempobet
Cardiff CityEngland Neil WarnockEngland Sean MorrisonAdidasVisit Malaysia
Derby CountyEngland Gary RowettEngland Curtis DaviesUmbroAvon Tyres
FulhamSerbia Slaviša JokanovićScotland Tom CairneyAdidasGrosvenor Casinos
Hull CityEngland Nigel AdkinsEngland Michael DawsonUmbroSportPesa
Ipswich TownEngland Paul HurstEngland Luke ChambersAdidasMarcus Evans
Leeds UnitedEngland Paul HeckingbottomScotland Liam CooperKappa32Red
MiddlesbroughWales Tony PulisEngland Grant LeadbitterAdidasRamsdens Currency
MillwallEngland Neil HarrisWales Steve MorisonErreàDCS Roofing
Norwich CityGermany Daniel FarkePortugal Ivo Pinto2ErreàLeoVegas
Nottingham ForestSpain Aitor KarankaEngland Chris CohenAdidas888sport
Preston North EndScotland Alex NeilRepublic of Ireland Greg CunninghamNikeTempobet
Queens Park RangersEngland Ian HollowayEngland Nedum OnuohaErreàRoyal Panda
ReadingEngland Paul ClementEngland Liam MoorePumaCarabao
Sheffield UnitedEngland Chris WilderEngland Billy SharpAdidasTeletext Holidays
Sheffield WednesdayNetherlands Jos LuhukayNetherlands Glenn LoovensElev8Chansiri
SunderlandScotland Jack RossEngland Lee CattermoleAdidasDafabet
Wolverhampton WanderersPortugal Nuno Espírito SantoEngland Danny BatthPumaThe Money Shop

Managerial changes

TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyPosition in tableIncoming managerDate of appointment
Norwich CityScotland Alan IrvineEnd of caretaker spell7 May 2017[citation needed]Pre-seasonGermany Daniel Farke25 May 2017
MiddlesbroughEngland Steve Agnew21 May 2017[citation needed]England Garry Monk9 June 2017
SunderlandScotland David MoyesResigned22 May 2017England Simon Grayson29 June 2017
Leeds UnitedEngland Garry Monk25 May 2017Denmark Thomas Christiansen15 June 2017
Hull CityPortugal Marco Silva25 May 2017Russia Leonid Slutsky9 June 2017
Wolverhampton WanderersScotland Paul LambertMutual consent30 May 2017Portugal Nuno Espírito Santo31 May 2017
Preston North EndEngland Simon GraysonSigned by Sunderland29 June 2017Scotland Alex Neil4 July 2017
Birmingham CityEngland Harry RedknappSacked16 September 201723rdEngland Steve Cotterill29 September 2017
SunderlandEngland Simon Grayson31 October 201722ndWales Chris Coleman17 November 2017
Hull CityRussia Leonid SlutskyMutual consent3 December 201720thEngland Nigel Adkins7 December 2017
MiddlesbroughEngland Garry MonkSacked23 December 20179thWales Tony Pulis26 December 2017
Sheffield WednesdayPortugal Carlos CarvalhalMutual consent24 December 201715thNetherlands Jos Luhukay5 January 2018
Nottingham ForestEngland Mark WarburtonSacked31 December 201714thSpain Aitor Karanka8 January 2018
Leeds UnitedDenmark Thomas Christiansen4 February 201810thEngland Paul Heckingbottom6 February 2018
BarnsleyEngland Paul HeckingbottomSigned by Leeds United6 February 201821stPortugal José Morais16 February 2018
Birmingham CityEngland Steve CotterillSacked3 March 201822ndEngland Garry Monk4 March 2018
ReadingNetherlands Jaap Stam21 March 201818thEngland Paul Clement23 March 2018
Ipswich TownRepublic of Ireland Mick McCarthyResigned10 April 201812thEngland Paul Hurst30 May 2018
SunderlandWales Chris ColemanSacked29 April 201824thScotland Jack Ross25 May 2018

League table

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsPromotion, qualification or relegation
1Wolverhampton Wanderers (C, P)4630978239+4399Promotion to the Premier League
2Cardiff City (P)46279106939+3090
3Fulham (O, P)46251387946+3388Qualification for Championship play-offs
4Aston Villa462411117242+3083
5Middlesbrough462210146745+2276
6Derby County462015117048+2275
7Preston North End461916115746+1173
8Millwall461915125645+1172
9Brentford461815136252+1069
10Sheffield United46209176255+769
11Bristol City461716136758+967
12Ipswich Town46179205760−360
13Leeds United46179205964−560
14Norwich City461515164960−1160
15Sheffield Wednesday461415175960−157
16Queens Park Rangers461511205870−1256
17Nottingham Forest46158235165−1453
18Hull City461116197070049
19Birmingham City46137263868−3046
20Reading461014224870−2244
21Bolton Wanderers461013233974−3543
22Barnsley (R)46914234872−2441Relegation to EFL League One
23Burton Albion (R)461011253881−4341
24Sunderland (R)46716235280−2837

Play-offs

Semi-finalsFinal
3Fulham022
6Derby County101
3Fulham1
4Aston Villa0
4Aston Villa101
5Middlesbrough000

Results

Home \ AwayASTBARBIRBOLBREBRIBRTCARDERFULHULIPSLEEMIDMILNORNOTPNEQPRREASHUSHWSUNWOL
Aston Villa—3–12–01–00–05–03–21–01–12–11–12–01–00–00–04–22–11–11–33–02–21–22–14–1
Barnsley0–3—2–02–22–02–21–20–10–31–30–11–20–22–20–21–12–10–01–11–13–21–13–00–0
Birmingham City0–00–2—0–00–22–11–11–00–33–13–01–01–00–10–10–21–01–31–20–22–11–03–10–1
Bolton Wanderers1–03–10–1—0–31–00–12–01–21–11–01–12–30–30–22–13–21–31–12–20–12–11–00–4
Brentford2–10–05–02–0—2–21–11–31–13–11–11–03–11–11–00–13–41–12–11–11–12–03–30–0
Bristol City1–13–13–12–00–1—0–02–14–11–15–51–00–32–10–00–12–11–22–02–02–34–03–31–2
Burton Albion0–42–42–12–00–20–0—0–13–12–10–51–21–21–10–10–00–01–21–31–31–31–10–20–4
Cardiff City3–02–13–22–02–01–03–1—0–02–41–03–13–11–00–03–12–10–12–10–02–01–14–00–1
Derby County2–04–11–13–03–00–01–03–1—1–25–00–12–21–23–01–12–01–02–02–41–12–01–40–2
Fulham2–02–11–01–11–10–26–01–11–1—2–14–12–01–11–01–12–02–22–21–03–00–12–12–0
Hull City0–01–16–14–03–22–34–10–20–02–2—2–20–01–31–24–32–31–24–00–01–00–11–12–3
Ipswich Town0–41–01–02–02–01–30–00–11–20–20–3—1–02–22–20–14–23–00–02–00–02–25–20–1
Leeds United1–12–12–02–11–02–25–01–41–20–01–03–2—2–13–41–00–00–02–00–11–21–21–10–3
Middlesbrough0–13–12–02–02–22–12–00–10–30–13–12–03–0—2–00–12–00–03–22–11–00–01–01–2
Millwall1–01–32–01–11–02–00–11–10–00–30–03–41–02–1—4–02–01–11–02–13–12–11–12–2
Norwich City3–11–11–00–01–20–00–00–21–20–21–11–12–11–02–1—0–01–12–03–21–23–11–30–2
Nottingham Forest0–13–02–13–20–10–02–00–20–01–30–22–10–22–11–01–0—0–34–01–12–10–30–11–2
Preston North End0–21–11–10–02–32–12–13–00–11–22–10–13–12–30–00–01–1—1–01–01–01–02–21–1
Queens Park Rangers1–21–03–12–02–21–10–02–11–11–22–12–11–30–32–24–12–51–2—2–01–04–21–02–1
Reading2–13–00–21–10–10–11–22–23–31–11–10–42–20–20–21–23–11–01–0—1–30–02–20–2
Sheffield United0–11–01–10–11–01–22–01–13–14–54–11–02–12–11–10–10–00–12–12–1—0–03–02–0
Sheffield Wednesday2–41–11–31–12–10–00–30–02–00–12–21–23–01–22–15–13–14–11–13–02–4—1–10–1
Sunderland0–30–11–13–30–21–21–21–21–11–01–00–20–23–32–21–10–10–21–11–31–21–3—3–0
Wolverhampton Wanderers2–02–12–05–13–03–33–11–22–02–02–21–04–11–01–02–20–23–22–13–03–00–00–0—

Top scorers

RankPlayerClubGoals
1Czech Republic Matěj VydraDerby County21
2England Lewis GrabbanSunderland/Aston Villa20
3England Bobby ReidBristol City19
England Leon ClarkeSheffield United
5Portugal Diogo JotaWolverhampton Wanderers17
6England Martyn WaghornIpswich Town16
7England Ryan SessegnonFulham15
Democratic Republic of the Congo Britt AssombalongaMiddlesbrough
9England James MaddisonNorwich City14
Ghana Albert AdomahAston Villa
England Jarrod BowenHull City

Hat-tricks

PlayerForAgainstResultDate
Uruguay Abel HernándezHull CityBurton Albion4–1 (H)12 August 2017
Republic of Ireland Conor HourihaneAston VillaNorwich City4–2 (H)19 August 2017
England Kieran DowellNottingham ForestHull City3–2 (A)28 October 2017
England Leon Clarke4Sheffield UnitedHull City4–1 (H)4 November 2017
England Ryan SessegnonFulhamSheffield United5–4 (A)21 November 2017
England Leon ClarkeSheffield UnitedFulham4–5 (H)21 November 2017
Czech Republic Matěj VydraDerby CountyMiddlesbrough3–0 (A)25 November 2017
England Kemar RoofeLeeds UnitedQueens Park Rangers3–1 (A)9 December 2017
England Patrick BamfordMiddlesbroughLeeds United3–0 (H)2 March 2018
England Bobby ReidBristol CitySheffield Wednesday4–0 (H)3 March 2018
England James MaddisonNorwich CityHull City3–4 (A)10 March 2018
Kosovo Atdhe NuhiuSheffield WednesdayNorwich City5–1 (H)6 May 2018

4 Player scored 4 goals

Monthly awards

MonthManager of the MonthPlayer of the MonthReference
ManagerClubPlayerClub
AugustEngland Neil WarnockCardiff CityEngland Nathaniel Mendez-LaingCardiff City
SeptemberEngland Lee JohnsonBristol CityEngland Aden FlintBristol City
OctoberEngland Gary RowettDerby CountyBrazil Léo BonatiniWolverhampton Wanderers
NovemberPortugal Nuno Espírito SantoWolverhampton WanderersEngland Leon ClarkeSheffield United
DecemberEngland Gary RowettDerby CountyEngland Scott CarsonDerby County
JanuaryEngland Steve BruceAston VillaEngland Ryan SessegnonFulham
FebruaryEngland Neil WarnockCardiff CityScotland Oli McBurnieBarnsley
MarchEngland Neil WarnockCardiff CitySerbia Aleksandar MitrovićFulham
AprilSerbia Slaviša JokanovićFulhamSerbia Aleksandar MitrovićFulham

Attendances

TeamStadiumCapacityAverageMinimumMaximumPercentage Full
Aston VillaVilla Park42,79032,09726,63141,74575%
BarnsleyOakwell23,00913,70410,92017,16360%
Birmingham CitySt Andrew's30,01521,04218,30127,60870%
Bolton WanderersMacron Stadium28,72315,88713,11321,09755%
BrentfordGriffin Park12,30010,2347,95712,36783%
Bristol CityAshton Gate27,00020,95317,20325,54078%
Burton AlbionPirelli Stadium6,9124,6452,7506,53567%
Cardiff CityCardiff City Stadium33,30020,16415,95132,47861%
Derby CountyPride Park Stadium33,60027,17523,29631,19681%
FulhamCraven Cottage25,70019,89615,79224,54777%
Hull CityKCOM Stadium25,40415,62213,52418,02661%
Ipswich TownPortman Road30,30016,27113,06124,92854%
Leeds UnitedElland Road37,89031,52126,43435,37783%
MiddlesbroughRiverside Stadium34,74225,54422,84829,44374%
MillwallThe Den20,14613,3689,81717,61766%
Norwich CityCarrow Road27,22025,78521,16727,10095%
Nottingham ForestCity Ground30,44524,68020,59629,10681%
Preston North EndDeepdale23,40813,77410,79618,57059%
Queens Park RangersLoftus Road18,43913,92811,48816,93476%
ReadingMadejski Stadium24,16116,6566,76921,77169%
Sheffield UnitedBramall Lane32,70226,85424,40931,12082%
Sheffield WednesdayHillsborough39,75225,99522,73332,83965%
SunderlandStadium of Light49,00027,63524,89431,23756%
WolverhamptonMolineux31,70028,29823,04530,23989%