AI describes all 24 EFL Championship clubs in just one word – QPR’s is bang on.
With promotion ambitions, relegation fears, and mayhem in between, England’s second division is still one of the most unpredictable and entertaining leagues in the world.
Every club has its own unique energy, history, and identity, and in preparation for the 2025/26 season, Football League World asked AI to condense each of the 24 finalists into a single word. ChatGPT informed us that it had devised a one-word description aimed at capturing “identity, history, or recent reputation.
” The end result was reductive, controversial, and, at times, perhaps communicated more than it should. Here comes the league, one word at a time.
1 Birmingham City – Resilient
Years of off-pitch turbulence have not crushed the Blues’ spirit. Birmingham City, who have been promoted back to the Championship for the 25/26 season, will be hoping that their offseason in League One will prepare them for a great comeback.
2 Blackburn Rovers – Historic
ChatGPT, one of the Football League’s founding members, described Blackburn Rovers as ‘historic’, which is difficult to dispute.
3 Bristol City – Understated
It’s easy to see why AI said the Robins are ‘understated’, given how rarely they’ve made headlines recently. However, after finishing sixth and qualifying for the play-offs in the 24/25 season, Bristol City’s fortunes may change.
4 Charlton Athletic – Reviving
ChatGPT capitalised on Charlton’s status as a sleeping giant with this one. After a five-season spell in League One, the Addicks will be attempting to resurrect their Championship campaign when they return in 25/26.
5 Coventry City – Tenacious
Coventry’s return to second-tier stability has been hard won. Years of crises, point deductions, and stadium exile could have destroyed the team, yet they have emerged strong and upwardly mobile.
6 Derby County – Rebuilding
Derby are now starting to recover from years of financial disaster, point deductions and relegation to League One. Their return to the Championship has been meticulously planned – a painstaking effort, not a sugar rush – and that is exactly what “rebuilding” looks like.
7 Hull City – Unpredictable
Will Hull compete for the play-offs or finish in mid-table with a flourish of chaos? Or do they stay up until the last day, like they did in the 24/25 season? The Tigers have flare and ambition, but consistency has always been elusive.
8 Ipswich Town – Momentum
Back-to-back promotions and a blazing return to the Premier League – until recently, Ipswich Town were a club on a roll. Under Kieran McKenna, the Tractor Boys have had successive celebratory seasons, which tragically ended with a return to the Championship for the 25/26 season.
9 Leicester City – Ambitious
Despite being relegated in 2023 and taking a little break from the Premier League this season, Leicester still appear and feel like a team with top-tier ambitions. ChatGPT’s “ambitious” judgement fits the Foxes well, given their skill, money, and pedigree, but the Championship is rarely that straightforward.
10 Middlesbrough – Structured
Boro are a well-run club that has a distinct personality both on and off the pitch. Over the last few seasons, they’ve had some consistent issues in climbing the pyramid. The squad has an ethos, a spine, and a sense of direction. After finishing 10th last season, they’ll be looking to make one last push in the post-Michael Carrick era.
11 Millwall – Gritty
Millwall continue to embody the roughness associated with The Den. Physically dedicated, defensively organised, and difficult to beat at home, they remain one of the Championship’s most tenacious and hard-working teams.
12 Norwich City – Yo-yo
Norwich City’s recent history has been characterised by frequent moves between the Premier League and the Championship. With six relegations and five promotions, the term “yo-yo” describes the club’s cyclical trajectory.
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