The Championship has always been a proving ground for many talented players and managers alike to prove their ability before stepping up to England's elite.

And whilst there are many young managers in the Championship; including Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Lee Heckingbottom, Gary Rowett and Garry Monk; there are also some extremely experienced and smart managers in the second tier.

After Aston Villa brought in Roberto di Matteo as the man to try and return them to the Premier League back in the summer, it meant that the Championship had as many Champions League-winning managers as Spain's La Liga.

Whilst the ex-Chelsea interim manager has since been sacked, the standard of both the players and managers in the Championship is always going up, breeding top-quality football all the way down the English pyramid.

Here, in the opinion of FLW's Ryan Evans, are the top THREE most smart managers in the Championship...

 

3) Neil Warnock (Cardiff City)

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The current Cardiff boss has performed miracles in this division in the past, and the Bluebirds will be hoping he can continue his record this season.

He took over at the Cardiff City Stadium with the club in the bottom three, but two wins since then has helped the club out of the drop zone already.

His decorated history includes seven promotions (including two to the Premier League and two as division winners) with clubs such as Notts County, Sheffield United and Queen's Park Rangers, and has won manager of the month another seven times.

Warnock was also voted as the BBC London Sports Personality of the Year in 2011, whilst manager of QPR.

Perhaps his greatest achievement was last season, taking over at Rotherham and keeping them safe from relegation.

The side were six points from safety before they went on a ten game unbeaten run, eventually surviving by ten points.

2) Steve Bruce (Aston Villa)

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The current Aston Villa manager worked his promotion magic as recently as last season, winning the play-offs with Hull City, before links with the England manager's job seemed to unsettle him and he resigned shortly before the start of the Premier League season.

He has won promotion four times, twice with Hull and twice with Birmingham, and is hoping to do the same with Villa after taking over from di Matteo.

It will be tough, especially after their terrible start, but he's already turned things around, very much like Warnock.

Amongst Bruce's other achievements is making it to the final of the FA Cup, and winning Championship manager of the month twice.

Whenever a new job becomes available in the top end of the second tier or lower half of the Premier League, the 55-year old is seemingly always linked with the available post, making him amongst the best-respected English managers.

1) Rafa Benitez (Newcastle)

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This won't come as a surprise as many, but in my opinion there is only one option for the top spot.

The ex-Liverpool, Chelsea and Real Madrid manager took over at Newcastle in somewhat of a surprise move with the club doomed to relegation in the latter half of last season.

It was a real boost to sign him again on for the current season, and has worked his magic once more, bringing in a number of new signings and leading the club to top spot in the Championship table, three points clear of nearest challengers Brighton & Hove Albion.

Away from St James's, his honours include the Spanish Under-19 league and cup double with Real Madrid Under-19s, two La Liga titles with Valencia, one Champions League win, the Europa League, the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup.

All in all, this makes him one of the most successful managers in the whole world, let alone the Championship.

Championship fans, what do you think? Would you add any other managers to this list? Do you agree that Benitez is the most skillful of the current crop of Championship managers? Let us know your thoughts and opinions via the comments box below!