The Championship has seen some brilliant playmakers over the last 20 years, with the likes of Jack Grealish and Jude Bellingham plying their trade in the second tier in previous seasons for Aston Villa and Birmingham City respectively.
However, neither player won the Playmaker of the Year award for most assists in a second-tier campaign. Some of the stars to win the award haven’t even been attackers, with full-backs starring in the final third.
Here, we’ve looked at every Championship Playmaker of the Year winner since 2004/05, with a detailed look at the last 10 recipients of the prize.
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1 ByCharlie SmithFeb 14, 2025 8 Conor Hourihane (Barnsley & Aston Villa) 2016/17 (15 assists)
Conor Hourihane swapped Barnsley for Aston Villa midway through the 2016/17 season – a decision which eventually proved to be the right one with Villa going up via the play-offs the following season.
The Irishman’s quality delivery from set pieces and open play saw him register 15 assists, four more than any of his nearest rivals.
7 Barry Douglas (Wolves) 2017/18 (14 assists)
Full-back Barry Douglas, another left-footed star, won the award in 2017/18 with Wolves.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side romped to the title with 99 points and Douglas starred in a wing-back role, registering 14 assists in 39 games. Robert Snodgrass of Aston Villa, Martyn Waghorn of Ipswich Town and Luke Freeman of QPR all finished on 13.
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1 ByRoss KilvingtonFeb 27, 2025 6 Said Benrahma (Brentford) 2018/19 (15 assists)
Said Benrahma was the creative star in 2018/19 as part of a Brentford side that just about managed to finish in the top half.
The Algerian beat the likes of Emiliano Buendia, who won the title with Norwich City, and Pablo Hernandez of Leeds United, who were managed by Marcelo Bielsa.
Benrahma’s impressive displays in the Championship eventually earned him a move to West Ham, with the trickster going on to help lead the Bees’ promotion charge in 2019/20, though Thomas Frank’s side were beaten in the play-off final by Fulham.
5 Matheus Pereira (West Brom) 2019/20 (20 assists)
Attacking midfielder Matheus Pereira was a Championship force to be reckoned with in 2019/20, registering eight more assists than any other player in the division.
Pereira helped West Brom win automatic promotion, setting up 20 of their 77 goals that season.
After leaving the Baggies for the Saudi Pro League’s Al-Hilal, Pereira is now back in his native Brazil with Cruzeiro.
4 Emiliano Buendia (Norwich City) 2020/21 (16 assists)
After coming close on previous occasions, Emiliano Buendia finally won the Playmaker of the Year award as Norwich City returned to the Premier League at the first time of asking in 2020/21.
Buendia’s tally of 16 in 39 appearances was four more than Harry Wilson of Cardiff City and Michael Olise of Reading. Buendia ended that summer at Aston Villa, where he has remained ever since.
3 Harry Wilson (Fulham) 2021/22 (20 assists)
After impressing with Cardiff, Harry Wilson was signed by Fulham following their relegation in 2021, and helped them storm to the title in 2021/22.
In a season which saw Aleksandar Mitrovic score a remarkable 43 goals, Fulham finished top after netting 106 times as a team, with Wilson registering 20 assists and scoring 10 himself.
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ByCharlie SmithFeb 19, 2025 2 Jack Clarke (Sunderland) 2022/23 (12 assists)
Jack Clarke starred for Sunderland in their first season back in the Championship after finally coming up from League One in 2022/23.
On loan from Tottenham Hotspur at the time, Clarke proved to be a nightmare for full-backs and helped the Black Cats to a play-off finish with 12 assists, but Sunderland failed to make it to Wembley after defeat to Luton Town.
1 Leif Davis (Ipswich Town) 2023/24 (21 assists)
Unlike Sunderland, Ipswich Town did manage to make it back-to-back promotions from League One to the Premier League under Kieran McKenna.
One of the stars of the 2023/24 season was Leif Davis, who recorded an incredible 21 assists from left-back. The Englishman set up 21 of the Tractor Boys’ 92 goals, six more than Georginio Rutter of Leeds United.
Only Adel Taarabt’s 21 assists in 2010/11 can match Davis’ haul from that season, though the Tractor Boys star’s is certainly impressive from left-back.
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