Birmingham City crowned League One champions

Birmingham City have been crowned League One champions, a year after being relegated from the Championship, sealing their first league title in three decades.

The title was confirmed on 12 April, when Wrexham, their nearest challengers, drew 0-0 with Wigan Athletic, just days after Blues had made sure of promotion back to the Championship with six matches still to play.

First title since 1995

It is the club's first league title since they won the old Second Division, then the third tier, in the 1994-95 season. That was also the last time Birmingham City played in the third tier before this season.

Blues have dominated the division, leading the table for much of the campaign and pulling clear of the chasing pack in the second half of the season.

From relegation to rebirth

A year ago, the club was in turmoil. A season that began with high hopes under new owners ended in relegation to League One, after 29 seasons at a higher level. Several different managers took charge of the team during the campaign, including Wayne Rooney, who was sacked after 83 days.

In June, the club appointed Chris Davies, the former assistant to Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham Hotspur, as manager on a four-year contract. It was his first job as a senior manager, and the club said it had assessed close to 1,000 coaches before choosing him.

The owners backed him heavily in the transfer market. Early signings included goalkeepers Ryan Allsop and Bailey Peacock-Farrell and Alfie May, the previous season's League One top scorer, and the squad was widely regarded as far stronger than most in the division.

Ambitious owners

The club is controlled by Knighthead Capital Management, led by chairman Tom Wagner, with seven-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady as a minority owner. Since taking over in 2023, they have set out ambitious plans, including a new stadium on the site of the former Birmingham Wheels park in Bordesley, as the centrepiece of a new sports quarter.

Crowds at St Andrew's have been strong throughout the season, with supporters turning out in large numbers despite the drop into the third tier.

The Championship awaits

Promotion means Blues will return to the Championship next season, and the owners have made no secret of their ambition to reach the Premier League. The squad will need further strengthening for the step up, but the club's recent spending suggests that is likely.

For now, supporters can enjoy the rare feeling of seeing their team lift a trophy. The final weeks of the season will be a celebration, with the trophy expected to be presented at St Andrew's.

For Davies, it is a remarkable start to his managerial career, and a reward for a season in which his side have played with confidence and attacking intent from the first week to the last.