The summer months are always busy for clubs on the field as they try and build a successful squad, but there's also been a number of managerial appointments in the Sky Bet Championship.
The man who guided Leicester City to the Premier League has returned to the Sky Bet Championship, and bosses with European experience have arrived in their droves, all set to make their dugout debuts on the opening weekend of the EFL campaign, which kicks off on Friday 5th August.Barnsley start life back in the Sky Bet Championship with a trip to Ipswich Town and they will do so under the guidance of Paul Heckingbottom. He was the man who led them to a Trophy and League One Play-Off double last term, but only as a caretaker head coach until he was given the job permanently over the summer.
Read more: Sky Bet League One - Managers set for first matches at new clubs to kick-off 2016/17
Aston Villa are also new to the division following relegation last term and Roberto di Matteo is the new man in charge at Villa Park. He has EFL managerial experience with MK Dons and has since won the UEFA Champions League in the Chelsea dugout, but is now tasked with returning Villa to the top flight.
Nottingham Forest's new boss Philippe Montanier also has Champions League pedigree, having guided Real Sociedad to the competition after a fourth-placed finish in Spain's La Liga.
Read more: Nottingham Forest – who is new boss Philippe Montanier
Jaap Stam won Europe's showpiece competition as a player with Manchester United and takes his first foray into management with Reading, who start at home to Preston North End, while Alan Stubbs is another former no-nonsense defender making his dugout debut in 2016/17, in charge of Rotherham United.
More familiar faces to the Sky Bet Championship are Owen Coyle, Garry Monk and Nigel Pearson, who have all made a return to the division.Jaap hails from the home of 'Total Football' 🇳🇱 - he wants 'attacking, attractive football' https://t.co/uwQR3GRtkHhttps://t.co/oMOdursEq5
— Reading FC (@ReadingFC) July 1, 2016
Former Burnley boss Coyle, who led the Clarets to Championship Play-Off glory in 2008/09, is back in Lancashire with Blackburn Rovers after a spell in America, while Monk – highly-experienced in the EFL as a player – replaced Steve Evans in the Elland Road managerial seat.
Read more: Who's new? A look at Sky Bet League Two's new bosses
Pearson was the man who guided Leicester City to the Premier League by winning the Championship in 2013/14, before they went on to become champions of England, and he's now in charge at Derby County, who will harbour ambitions of returning to the top table.
Paul Trollope is the other new boss in the division, following his appointment at Cardiff City. The former midfielder enjoyed a colourful career in the EFL as a player and returns to the dugout as a manager six years after his previous spell as number one, at Bristol Rovers.INTERVIEW: Pearson stresses the importance of getting #DCFC's pre-season campaign right: https://t.co/1o4X21HzU9 📝 pic.twitter.com/RR5EmwHAY2
— Derby County (@dcfcofficial) July 6, 2016
#FixtureReleaseDay: EFL Season 2016/17 fixtures announced
Managers who will be making their dugout debuts at new clubs on the opening weekend of Season 2016/17:
Roberto di Matteo (Aston Villa)
Paul Heckingbottom (Barnsley)*
Owen Coyle (Blackburn Rovers)
Paul Trollope (Cardiff City)
Nigel Pearson (Derby County)
Garry Monk (Leeds United)
Philippe Montanier (Nottingham Forest)
Jaap Stam (Reading)
Alan Stubbs (Rotherham United)
*Caretaker head coach in 2015/16 before being made permanent in the close-season.