Derby County

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Derby County goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterstrom and Stoke City's keeper Viktor Johansson have been named in the Sweden squad for the World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada.

The pair have been included along with current number one Kristoffer Nordfeldt in Graham Potter's squad for the tournament which gets under way in 11 June.

Zetterstrom, who has won two caps, played 32 times for the Rams as the club finished eighth, narrowly missing out on a place in the Championship play-offs this season.

Twelve-cap Johansson, who signed a new four-year contract on 1 May, has spent most of 2026 recovering from shoulder surgery but made his return in Stoke's final game of the season against Bristol City.

Sweden secured their World Cup place by beating Ukraine and Poland in the play-offs and will open their campaign against Mexico in Monterrey on Monday, 15 June.

Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres and Liverpool forward Alexander Isak are also included, as are Leeds' Gabriel Gudmundsson, Aston Villa defender Victor Lindelof, Brighton's Yasin Ayari, Tottenham Hotspur's Lucas Bergvall and Newcastle United winger Anthony Elanga.

What's it really like trying to stop Wayne Rooney at his peak? And how did it go when he becomes your team-mate and then your boss?

In the latest episode of The Wayne Rooney Show, Phil Jagielka explains exactly what went on when he joined Wayne at Derby County during one of their most tumultuous periods, working under him as a colleague while the club battled off-field issues, points deductions and constant uncertainty.

From rivals to team-mates for club and country, Wayne and Phil lift the lid on life inside shared dressing rooms, and what Wayne is really like up close: the competitor, the leader and the personality behind the headlines.

They also reveal which England defenders they believe should make it to the World Cup.

Watch on BBC Sport YouTube & iPlayer, listen on BBC Sounds.

Episodes drop every Friday and Monday morning.

Ed Dawes
BBC Radio Derby commentator

So that is time on another season - and my 650th Derby County commentary for BBC Radio Derby - which came to a poignant end against Sheffield United.

That match also marked the final broadcast for a much‑loved colleague as Eric Steele hung up his microphone at the end of the campaign.

Eric and I have worked hundreds of games together since he returned to Radio Derby in 2018, beginning with a Championship win at Hull City.

Since then, his knowledge, insight and deep connection to Derby County made him the perfect foil - especially for a commentator liable to lose their mind on occasion.

We've been through plenty together. From the uncertainty of the Covid outbreak in 2020, commentating on games in empty stadia and from hospitality boxes at Pride Park watching games on monitors, to covering the dismantling of an established Championship club and then charting its slow, patient rebuild.

Along the way, we also shared the joy - promotion celebrations against Carlisle at Pride Park and the relief of survival the following season.

Image source, BBC Sport

It has been a privilege to work alongside Eric - not just a safe pair of hands on the pitch, but in the commentary box too. His broadcast experience always stood out, but so did his preparation, understanding of the role and respect for the audience.

Quite simply, he set the standard.

The measure of the man was the response to the news of his retirement. Messages poured in from listeners, alongside voice notes from players, coaches and managers he has worked with across the game.

Even Sir Alex Ferguson, for whom Eric served as goalkeeping coach at Manchester United, took time to congratulate him on his success at BBC Radio Derby.

Next season will feel very different without him.

I am fortunate to be joined by former Rams Premier League striker Malcolm Christie and host Dominic Dietrich, but there is no escaping the fact that Eric leaves behind a vacancy - and a pair of gloves - that will be incredibly tough to fill.

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Sport asked Derby County supporters what it would take to get the Rams challenging for promotion next season after just missing out on the play-offs this season.

Below is a selection of responses.

Clive: For me, it just requires more of the same. It would be great to bring in Bobby Clark, David Ozoh and Jayden Banel on permanent deals. Over and above that: more building, more strength in depth, more quality through the spine of the team and probably more invention in the final third. But make no mistake, this season was a huge step forward. This needs to be a summer of gentle evolution, rather than the revolution of last season.

Jake: Proud of the boys this year. With some strength in depth & shrewd loan deals we should be right up there next year. Midfield needs investment. Clark has been a revelation but will surely be desirable elsewhere sadly.

Michael: What the Rams need is the modern equivalent of two legendary names of the past; Archie Gemmill & Johnny Giles i.e. a midfield "scrapper" to service the front line. It would be great if this midfield dynamo emerged from the academy, but spend if we must!

Matthew: It all depends on who leaves the club, who retires, who re-joins on loan or permanently and who we decide is surplus to requirements. Personally I still think we lack real creative Number 10, dare I say a flair player (are they still a thing?). I know this isn't necessarily Eustace's style as he prefers a much more pragmatic approach, however, there is still room for creativity, a player like [Inigo] Idiakez or Kris Commons, someone who can pluck a goal out of thin air. And yes of course there are other areas we need to strengthen such as wide/wing players and some proper back-up for Morris up top. Other than that I'd say defensively we will be strong with everyone back fit and the goalkeeping department is steady. We're gonna come up against an old foe next season, one we haven't been familiar with for a few years, EXPECTATION.

Ian: We need a holding midfielder to replace [Lewis] Travis and a creative midfielder as Kenzo [Goudmijn] isn't that person and we won't get to keep Bobby Clark. Two decent wingers also needed as our main goal outlet is guys who can head a ball.

Mik: We need to sign Bobby Clark if that's possible. He's a great player. Ozoh would be a good addition too but that is unfortunately unlikely. Another striker on loan would be good too considering that Pat [Agyemang] is more than likely out for next season.

Gary: We could try to make excuses about key injuries at the wrong time, mainly Morris, Langas and then Agyemang and Brewster, but the depth of squad kept us on the fringes of the play-offs. We outperformed my expectations (especially after the poor start) and I think I am glad we didn't make the play-offs so we can concentrate on the behind the scenes stuff straight away. If we can turn some of the loanees into signings (Szmodics, Clark, Ozoh) we have the makings of a very competitive Championship side but we also need to keep the two/three players that look to be Premier League quality (Zetterstrom, Langas and possibly Agyemang). Eustace seems to have the nous and we can take comfort that the club is in safe hands with Clowes. I am not in any way complacent because we all know how unpredictable the Championship is, but Derby should be up there challenging with the best next season.

Richard: Derby need much more in-depth quality within the squad - the bench has not been fit for a promotion contending team - and must address the ongoing volume of injuries across a season. Keeping key players fit and allowing a settled team for long periods of the season is a must.

James: Time for the owners to step down and put the club up for SALE. This selling only 80% is rubbish. Big money is out there for the club. Better players would come to the club. As for the talk on BBC Radio Derby about having eight teams for the play-offs next season, it just goes to show how desperate [clubs are] to go up. I want Derby to do what Coventry did, and no play-offs. Even second will do.

Ross: I think it was a surprise to most that we were even in contention for a play-off place this year; especially after the previous season. I think the main thing that's needed is to build upon the existing groundwork that Clowes, Eustace and co have laid this year - the recruitment has been excellent, the football has been better (though perhaps work to do there), and the feel of the club is generally positive; a far cry from previous years when we were scarily close to no longer having a team.

I would look to the recruitment team first and foremost, priority number one should be the permanent signing of Bobby Clark. I would also like to see a return for Ozoh if possible, perhaps BBD too. Szmodics hasn't done enough for me to warrant a permanent signing and Banel doesn't seem like something that's being considered. Some additional squad depth would also be nice, especially considering our injury record this season.

The main thing aside from that is consistency. The players have got enough quality to win every game they play - sometimes we look like the best team in the league and the next game we'll look totally lost and we'll get hammered. If we're wanting to be serious about getting into a play-off space (I think automatics may be pushing it), then we need to iron out those creases and firm up the mentality. It's worth mentioning that I do feel that Eustace is the man to do that, his football isn't the best at times, but it's difficult to claim that he doesn't manage to get through to the players to make them fight for him.

Any improvement upon this season is a win in my eyes, and, for the most part, I'm just glad we're competitive again.

Amelia Warren
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

The play-off dream proved to be a step too far for Derby County this season.

In previous Championship campaigns, losing on the final day and finishing eighth in the table would have been disappointing, particularly with a play-off place up for grabs.

However, looking around Pride Park on Saturday, I didn't see disappointment. Instead I saw a lot of excitement for the future, and a sense that the pressure was off, despite what was on the line.

Most fans were just eager to express their pride in the players, the staff, and the board for a much improved season.

The play-offs felt like a bonus prize.

As I started to feel frustrated when Derby fell behind in the game after leading, I took a few minutes to remember how the final day felt this time last year.

How League One football became so close to being a reality again, and how we survived by the skin of our teeth with a win ratio of just over 28% all season.

Then I thought about this campaign.

How we took over Sheffield and put three past both United and Wednesday on the road, how we won 5-0 at Bristol City away on a Friday night in front of the TV cameras, how we went on a five-game winning run in the league, how we gave some of the best and most in-form teams a run for their money, how our win rate increased to more than 43%.

With all that, I came back to the same conclusion I have reached multiple times this season: This season was never about success, it was about progress.

The Rams have progressed massively over the last 12 months.

Not making the play-offs could actually prove to be a blessing in disguise this time around, as key players such as Patrick Agyemang and Rhian Brewster remain sidelined with long-term injuries.

At the moment, the Rams' depth is not as strong as the teams who have ended up in the top six, and makes our table finish fair in the end.

Knowing we will be in the Championship next season allows us to start preparing now, giving us an entire summer to strengthen the squad further, and set our sights on an even stronger finish this time next year.

The future looks incredibly bright for Derby.

Before my dad passed away in November, he said the Rams would finish in the Championship top 10 this season. It's fair to say I didn't agree with him.

I wish he could have been here to say "I told you so" after Saturday.

However, the doubt I had in that statement last autumn just reinforces how remarkable the turnaround at Derby has been over the past 12 months. From the brink of relegation to genuine promotion contenders once again.

The city feels hopeful, and I for one can't wait to see what happens over the coming months as we welcome another drama-filled Championship season and continue to make positive steps towards our ambition of bringing Premier League football back to Pride Park.

You can often catch Amelia Warren, external as a guest on BBC Radio Derby.

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Derby County captain Lewis Travis says the side will be aiming for automatic promotion next season after missing out on a chance to enter this campaign's play-offs.

The Rams occupied the sixth place spot at half-time on Saturday before a second half comeback by Sheffield United pushed them to a 2-1 defeat, although Hull City's victory against Norwich meant even all three points would not have been enough to earn Derby a play-off spot.

However, despite their disappointment on the final day of the season, the Rams still accumulated 19 points more than their 2024-25 campaign, when they avoided relegation by just one point.

"We are gutted obviously but I think ultimately, if you look at the football club as a whole, we are going in the right direction," Travis told BBC Radio Derby.

"It's night and day from last year. Even if you look back at pre-season, we didn't have a pre-season to gel.

"We've got a solid group of players here. Hopefully we can keep all the loan players and add some good additions and go and chase that top two next season."

Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds

Listen to more Derby County content on BBC Sounds

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It has been a year of incredible change for Derby County.

In the space of 12 months, the Rams went from battling to avoid relegation on the final day of the 2024-25 season to falling just short of the play-off places this term.

In his final post-match interview of the campaign, head coach John Eustace was quick to say the club will work hard to establish itself as a top six contender next season. He even went so far as to say that a top two finish and automatic promotion could be a target.

Eustace says "quality" recruits will be needed to help make that happen.

At BBC Sport, we'd like to get the thoughts of Rams fans on what will be needed to turn Derby into genuine promotion contenders next term.

Get in touch with us here.

Derby County head coach John Eustace spoke BBC Radio Derby after his side fell short of the Championship play-offs after being beaten 2-1 by Sheffield United.

"It's obviously disappointing not to win the game," he said. I thought for the first hour, the players were unbelievable. With the effort of that first half we could have been three or four up, and we played some good stuff.

"That is certainly a sign of more things to come and what I want the team to be going into next year.

"Throughout this season this magnificent fanbase has got right behind the boys and today they were unbelievable. You can see the amount of people who have stayed back to make sure they show support for the players and the efforts they have put in this year, and that's amazing. That is why I came to the football club and why I want to keep help building it and pointing it in the right direction.

"We will [start preparing for next season] straight away. We will get the players signed up who are here, and we will need to keep building and have to bring top quality in.

"Look at Sheffield United, it's a fantastic team, but look at their bench and the players they are bringing on. We want to be able to do that.

"We obviously want to bring top players into the football club and really grow to help us sustain that top six [push], and with a bit of luck and if we believe in ourselves we can get into that top two."

This game is all about Derby County and their late quest for a play-off spot.

Victory over Sheffield United (12:30 BST) would leave one of Wrexham or Hull City needing to match their result to pip the Rams for that top-six finish.

Were the Red Dragons and the Tigers to lose then a draw for Derby would be enough because of their superior goal difference.

• After their 3-1 win in November, Derby could record their first league double over Sheffield United since 1995-96 under Jim Smith.

• Sheffield United have won five of their past nine league visits to Derby (D1 L3), more than their previous 33 beforehand (W4 D5 L24).

• Derby have only lost their final game of one of their past seven Championship seasons (W3 D3), a 1-0 defeat to Cardiff in 2021-22.

• Sheffield United are unbeaten in their final league game of their past six seasons outside of the Premier League (W4 D2) since a 2-0 defeat by Scunthorpe United in League One in 2015-16.

• Derby have won 20 Championship games in 2025-26, their most in a season since 2018-19 (also 20). They last won more than 20 at this level in 2015-16 (21).

Derby County boss John Eustace told BBC Radio Derby:

"I think that typified our season, that's Derby County.

"We go through difficult moments, we keep fighting and then obviously come through it and it's a great win.

"I always knew the first hour was going to be a really difficult time.

"The last 10 minutes was great, [we] really managed the game well. The lads managed the second half really well once we went 3-2 up.

On Jaydon Banel: "He's a really exciting young talent. He's scored a couple of goals at home and I'm delighted that he can get a really, really important goal again for us away from home."

Amelia Warren
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

A lot has changed in four years.

On 18 April, 2022, Loftus Road, heartbreak. The Rams fell to a 1-0 defeat away at Queens Park Rangers, and were officially relegated to the third tier of English football for the first time in 36 years.

21 points deducted, ownership troubles, the brink of extinction. Some of the darkest days in the history of Derby County Football Club.

I remember being in the away end at Loftus Road that afternoon, and witnessing this quite extraordinary scene where fans weren't angry, or frustrated, or even disappointed at full-time, in fact the emotions were quite the opposite.

Looking around there was just an overriding sense of pride.

Applause, chants, a couple of tears shed, and this incredible feeling that yes, Derby were down, but they certainly would be back.

Now, we find ourselves not only back in The Championship, but just four points off the play-off places with two games left to play.

Granted, after defeat away at Norwich City on Tuesday, a top six finish is now out of Derby's hands and looking unlikely.

However, I think it's important to highlight how far this team has come over the last four years, and in particular, over the last 12 months.

The calibre of players we've managed to bring in, Carlton Morris, Rhian Brewster, Ben Brereton Diaz, and Sammie Szmodics to name a few. Imagine telling someone in that away end in 2022 that we would have those kinds of names representing us just four years later.

Gone are the days of unnecessary overspending and risk taking to fast track our way to the big time.

Now we have stability and steady progress, with this clear long term vision and plan. The model of buying high ceiling players at a low price, and developing them to sell them on for big profits is taking shape.

The likes of Jacob Widell Zetterström and Patrick Agyemang already fit that, and no doubt there will be more new faces that align with those plans to come over the summer.

From a threadbare squad fighting to stay in the league which had little quality, lacked in depth, and didn't fit John Eustace's style. To an identity, a resolute and well organised approach, with leaders in all positions across the pitch, and a mentality that is centred around working hard, suffering, and believing in ambitious goals.

There was always an expectation that this Derby side would make a vast improvement this season, particularly with John Eustace being able to go through his first two transfer windows with the club. However, I think falling just short of the play-offs would still exceed the expectations that many had at the beginning of the campaign. Mine included.

Four years ago, resigned to League One football, at one of our lowest points in history, unsure of when brighter days would return. Now, back to competing at the top end of the Championship once more, with the aim to go a step further again next season.

Whatever the result on Saturday, just remember that same away end in 2022, remember how far away stability felt, and how the idea of promotion to the Premier League felt like a total fantasy that would take lightyears to even get close to achieving.

Look at us now.

A remarkable turnaround for a special football club, and it feels as though the best is still yet to come.

You can often catch Amelia Warren, external as a guest on BBC Radio Derby.

John Eustace says his Derby side will go all-out to gatecrash the Championship play-off places, despite the odds being against them.

The Rams are eighth, four points adrift of both sixth-placed Wrexham and Hull City in seventh, with just two games remaining.

Tuesday's 2-1 defeat at Norwich was a third straight away defeat for County, who have now lost six of their past seven games on their travels.

However, Eustace told BBC Radio Derby they would set out to end that run at QPR on Saturday (15:00 BST) and hope other results help their chances ahead of a final-day visit of Sheffield United to Pride Park.

He said: "The last six or seven games, apart from the Portsmouth (win), it's been against teams who are all going to finish in the top seven or eight.

"There's been some really difficult away games of late, but the way we've gone about our business [has been good] - we haven't had the results we have wanted, we've been in all those games and lost by the odd goal, been in the lead, clawed our way back into some really good positions.

"The most disappointing thing is that against top teams we couldn't go on and win the game - it's something we have to work on and learn from."

The lowest the Rams can finish is ninth, an improvement of 10 places on last season when they beat the drop by a single point.

"We want to progress and build, of course - anything better than last season is progression," Eustace added. "We've done it in the right way, I feel. We have stuck together.

"The top six is always the aim, we're going to keep trying. All we can do is take care of what we can do. We want to go to QPR and put in a really positive performance and win the game and let's see where we end up at the end of the season.

"The team don't need lifting up, we have always bounced back and that won't be any different.

"It's never really been in our hands, we've always had to win more than the others. We have two games to go and stamp our authority on the game and see where it takes us."

Image source, Opta

Derby will seek to keep up their fight for a Championship play-off place when they visit QPR on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

The Rams are eighth, two places and four points behind sixth-placed Wrexham after Tuesday night's 2-1 defeat at Norwich.

It was a third straight away defeat for John Eustace's side and a sixth in seven games on the road.

QPR are adrift in mid-table, sat 13th, after a 2-1 home defeat to Swansea the same night.

The Hoops are winless in four and though a top-10 place remains within their grasp with two games remaining, Julien Stephan's men could fall as low as 17th if results elsewhere go against them

• QPR have won both of their past two home league games against Derby County, only once before winning three in a row (from March 1981 to September 1982).

• After their 1-0 win in October, Derby are looking for their first league double over QPR since the 2016-17 season.

• Queens Park Rangers have lost their final home league game in three of the past four seasons (W1), more than their previous 10 beforehand (W7 D1 L2).

• Derby have won their final away league game in both of the past two seasons, only once before doing so more times in a row in the club's history – a run of four from 1891-92 to 1894-95.

• Derby have lost six of their past seven away league games (W1); no side has lost more times on the road in the Championship since the start of this period (21 February).

Image source, Shutterstock

Derby County manager John Eustace admits the goals the Rams conceded in their damaging 2-1 loss to Norwich City at Carrow Road were "really poor".

Derby's sixth loss in seven away league games has effectively ended their Championship play-off hopes and Eustace felt his side didn't execute their game plan well enough.

He told BBC Radio Derby: "I think the two goals we conceded were really poor first half. We tried to press them very high up the pitch. We won the ball back on a number of occasions, but we gave the ball straight back.

"I was happy with the game plan on that, I just wasn't happy with the execution in the first half and second half.

"I thought we created a number of chances where we could have scored. Obviously, they're a good team going forward and when you don't get your press right, they're going to attack you.

"I think Jacob [Zetterstrom] had only one save to make second half, and that was at the end. So I was really pleased with the effort, the attitude was great with the group. And with a little bit more quality on a different night, we possibly might have come away with something."

Image source, Opta

Norwich welcome Derby to Carrow Road on Tuesday night (19:45 BST) for a game with huge play-off implications.

The Canaries remain in contention for a top-six finish, just, after Saturday's thumping 4-2 win at Bristol City.

Philippe Clement's men are ninth, eight points behind Hull City in the final play-off spot, with three games to play.

Derby are far better placed, sat eighth, only three points behind the Tigers, with a superior goal difference, after beating Oxford United 1-0 at Pride Park on Saturday.

• Norwich have lost three of their past four home league games against Derby (D1) since a 3-0 win in January 2017.

• Following their 1-0 win in October, Derby are looking to complete the league double over Norwich for the first time since 2008-09.

• Only Sheffield Wednesday have lost more home league games in the Championship this season than Norwich City (W8 D2 L11); only in 1946-47 in Division 3 South have they lost more at home in a league campaign outside the top-flight (12).

• Derby have lost five of their previous six away league games (W1), as many as in their previous 20 matches in the Championship (W11 D4).

• Derby manager John Eustace has only won one of his seven previous league meetings with Norwich (D2 L4), though that victory did come in the reverse fixture in October.