Espanyol sporting director Monchi has urged Spanish clubs to pay closer attention to the Championship, describing England’s second tier as one of football’s “least understood” competitions.
Monchi returned to Spain after spending two years in England, where he worked with Aston Villa. The former Aston Villa president of football operations had previously held senior roles at Sevilla and Roma.
Now back in Spain, Monchi believes the Championship could become an increasingly valuable source of players for clubs operating under financial restrictions. He said Espanyol are examining markets where they can compete, and identified the English second tier as a competition offering both quality and opportunity.
“I think the Championship is one of the least understood competitions,” he told BBC Sport.
“Having lived in England for two years and worked with Aston Villa, and now continuing to follow the competition because of Burnley, I can say that there are some very good players there.
“I think it is a competition with an extremely high level of competitiveness, very good coaches and intense demands. It is an excellent place to discover talent.”
Monchi’s assessment comes from direct experience of English football and his continuing interest in the Championship through Burnley. His comments suggest Spanish clubs could benefit from assessing the competition more closely when searching for players.
The Championship occupies a particularly relevant place in Espanyol’s current network because of the club’s ownership structure. The group is led by Alan Pace, who also owns Championship side Burnley.
That connection provides Espanyol with a direct link to the English second tier as the club considers recruitment options within the financial limitations affecting Spanish football. Monchi’s view is that the competitiveness, coaching quality and demanding nature of the Championship make it a productive environment for identifying talent.
His return to Spain has therefore not ended his focus on the English game. Instead, his experience of working with Aston Villa and his continuing involvement through Burnley have reinforced his belief that the Championship remains underappreciated by clubs outside England.
For Monchi, increased attention from Spanish sides would be justified by the standard of players and the intensity of the competition. He sees the division not simply as a lower level of English football, but as a market capable of offering players who may otherwise be overlooked by clubs seeking talent within tighter financial parameters.
Espanyol’s ownership links with Burnley add a practical dimension to that assessment, while Monchi’s comments provide the clearest indication of why he believes the Championship deserves greater consideration from Spanish clubs.
