Unwanted Premiership Players Establish Themselves in the Coca Cola Championship

The Coca Cola Championship, was formed in 2005, before that is was called division one but because the league were becoming popular, abroad and in the UK, the trademark company ‘Coca-Cola’ decided to get in on the act. Therefore, the FA decided to let Coca Cola, advertise the league. The league has showcased some fantastic football, with some fantastic players. I am going to talk about the rise of unwanted premiership players seeking first team football and finding it in the Championship. 

10th October, 2006, Salif Diao moves on loan to Stoke FC, from Liverpool FC. Before arriving at the Championship side Stoke, he played for a number of French and English Premiership clubs. He made his break at French second division side CS Sedan Ardennes, prompting Liverpool to pay £5 million for the Senegalese international. Howether, he did not establish himself as a regular first team player because of injuries and new signings. He was loaned out to a number of Premiership clubs, but again he didn’t make the break. Stoke, Howether, saw the raw talent that prompted Liverpool to sign the player. The league table was looking bad for Stoke and defensive matters were worsening as the side were losing points home and away. Salif Diao arrival at the club had a positive affect on the teams performances in the league, and they survived relegation. He was even compared to the France and Chelsea player, Claude Makelele. His performances in the league for Stoke alerted a number of clubs, but he was loyal to Stoke and he signed a three year contract at the club. His fortunes blossomed at a growing club as Stoke, were promoted to the Premiership, the following year. His dreams of being a premiership player came true and he is now a regular player in the Stoke team. At 30, he still has the talent, that Liverpool spotted in the Senegalese player and he has even produced a number of the ‘Man of the match’ performances against Chelsea and Sunderland.

This kind of player shows how hard you have to work to establish yourself as a football professional at a professional club. A number of players have gone down this route, by leaving a Premiership club to join a Championship club, examples are Chris Eagles, a hot prospect a Manchester United, left out to dry and was transformed into a complete player at Burnley FC, and Ross Wallace, a player with bags of potential disappeared at Sunderland, but Preston North End saw the talent and offered him the chance to prove himself, which he took with both hands.The Championship, may be a lower league but players are attracted by the prospect of first team football and they want to show the talent that prompted the premiership clubs to cough up the money for them.