Are Scott Parker & Daniel Farke the best ever Championship managers? The top 20 points-per-game records

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Leeds & Burnley promoted to the Premier League 

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This Easter there was a bigger prize than just chocolate eggs at two clubs in the North of England. Both Leeds United and Burnley clinched promotion back to the Premier League. Just 12 months ago it was play-off final heartbreak for the Whites as Southampton beat Leeds 1-0 at Wembley. However, less than a year on, and Daniel Farke’s team’s 6-0 win over Stoke sent them on their way, before the Clarets beat Sheffield United 2-1 at Turf Moor to send both Leeds and Burnley up. The double promotion also spelt a double achievement in the dugouts. For both Farke and Scott Parker, it was the third time each manager has been promoted from the Championship, equalling EFL legend Neil Warnock’s record.

Farke was promoted twice with Norwich in the seasons of 2018/19 and 2020/21, before this season’s triumph. Whilst Parker has now been promoted with three separate teams, each at the first time of asking: Fulham in the 2019/20 season, Bournemouth in the 2021/22 campaign, and now Burnley. That’s not the only impressive statistic involving both of those aforementioned coaches. When we scroll back through the archives all the way back to the 2004/05 season – when the old Division One became the Championship – no managers boast a better points-per-game (PPG) record than Parker and Farke. But which other bosses make the top 20?

Leading the way is Parker, who has an incredible record of 1.93ppg from the 136 games he has managed in the Championship with Fulham, Bournemouth and Burnley. To date he has struggled to replicate his managerial prowess in the Premier League, but will be hoping for a better return in keeping Burnley in the top-flight next term. In second is then Farke, who is just behind with 1.92ppg from his 227 matches in the Championship with Norwich and Leeds. Third spot goes to Leeds’ legend Marcelo Bielsa, with the Argentine obtaining a record of 1.91ppg from his time in the Championship with the Yorkshire club. In fourth spot is former Reading manager Steve Coppell with 1.83ppg from 138 games.

Fifth place goes to the 2012 Champions League winning manager Roberto Di Matteo, who had a record of 1.77ppg from his 57 Championship matches managed with Aston Villa and West Brom. In sixth position is Welshman Steve Cooper with 1.74ppg from 130 games. He is followed in seventh by Sean Dyche with 1.72ppg from 171 Championship fixtures. Chris Hughton is eighth with 1.71ppg from 255 games. Brentford boss Thomas Frank takes ninth position with 1.70ppg from 126 matches, whilst Billy Davies completes the top 10 with 1.69ppg from as many as 296 Championship games managed.