The English Football League Championship, often simply called the Championship, is the second-highest division in the English football league system and is renowned for its intense competitiveness and unpredictability. Headquartered in England, it sits directly below the Premier League. The league was founded long before the Premier League's creation, with the EFL itself dating back to 1888. Its main competition is a 46-match regular season where each of the 24 teams plays the others twice. The top two teams gain automatic promotion to the Premier League, while the next four enter a high-stakes playoff tournament, with the winner claiming the third promotion spot, a fixture famously known as the richest game in football. The Championship is characterized by its physicality, relentless schedule, and the dream of Premier League promotion that drives every club. The league champion receives the EFL Championship trophy, and individual accolades include the Championship Player of the Season and the Golden Boot.