Last month, Chris Wilder left his boyhood club after nearly four unimaginable seasons with Sheffield United; but how did he get to where he is today?
Wilder is a manager who has quickly developed an extremely impressive CV, including a system of overlapping centre-backs that has become synonymous with his philosophy.
However, this exciting system of play is still very much new to Wilder. He spent years in the National League and lower leagues of professional football battling with chairmen and fans who were not necessarily happy with the style of play the former Blades right back was playing.
Chris Wilder’s spell at Oxford United
During his five-year tenure at Oxford United, Wilder battled criticism from supporters for a brand of football that left a lot to be desired.
Within a few seasons, he led the Yellows to play-off glory at Wembley in 2010 where they emerged 3-1 winners of the Blue Square Premier (now National League) against York City.
It was in the coming years that Wilder faced a backlash though. He received little in the way of financial backing from then-chairman Calvin Thomas to improve the side. Despite consolidating the Us as a promotion hopeful season after season, fans were not happy with the style of football.
And despite Lewis backing the manager with two contract extensions, keeping him at the club to the end of the 2013-14 campaign, Wilder decided he wanted out.
Wilder wins League Two at Northampton Town
He left United, who at the time were flying high towards the top of the table, to join fellow League Two team Northampton Town. The Cobblers were in financial difficulty, and in the relegation zone, which truly shows how desperate Wilder was to leave Oxford.
Despite the turmoil they were faced with, Town somehow avoided relegation. And over the next two seasons, Wilder guided Northampton to the title amid a season of huge financial struggle, including a two-month period where players and staff weren’t paid.
Rising up the leagues at his boyhood Blades
This second triumph earned him a gig with his boyhood club Sheffield United. Once again, the now 53-year-old showed his managerial abilities to comeback from being bottom of the table four weeks in, to achieve a club record 100 points in his maiden season with the Blades. This tally won them the League One title.
And in only his second season in the Championship, Wilder and his team finished second – earning Premier League promotion and a chance for him to shine.
The father-of-two made an instant impression. His no-nonsense approach with the media and his unheard philosophy of overlapping central defenders lit up the Premier League as United earned a ninth-place finish. It’s also easy to remember they just missed out on European football only after a poor final few games that season.
This term has been unlike any Wilder has faced as a manager. Sheffield United are heading for relegation, and with one of the worst records of a Premier League side ever.
Wilder eventually left the club by mutual consent in early March, amid a week or two of constant rumours surrounding his position as manager. Even players have revealed they heard very little from the club and were kept in the dark.
His departure has affected the Blades’ first-team squad
David McGoldrick said: “It was tough. The weird thing about it was that it came out of the blue from nowhere.
‘We got into training as normal, got into the treatment room and someone said, “Look at this on Twitter! Someone’s posted something saying the gaffer’s going to be sacked”.
‘Usually, you hear certain things. We heard there was talk a few months ago. We had found some form.
‘There was no confirmation for 48 hours, the boys didn’t properly meet Hecky [Heckingbottom].
‘People think we’ve seen him a lot, but we’re in different bubbles completely. The Under 23s aren’t allowed anywhere near us.
‘He hasn’t seen how we work and we haven’t seen how he works. To be thrown in at the deep end for the Leicester game was a real tough week for the lads.’
Blades owner Prince Abdullah revealed recently that Wilder wanted to resign twice, and also asked for a £4million severance fee when he resigned. The two eventually parted ways after several months of deliberating by Wilder and weeks of heated debates between himself and the Sheffield United board over irreconcilable differences.
Where does Wilder go from here?
There have been rumours linking him to several teams already, including Celtic. The Scottish giants are coming off the back of an embarrassing season in which their arch-rivals Ranger won the title for the first time in since 2010-11 season.
Celtic are unlikely to appoint a new manager before the end of the season. However, Wilder is a candidate who knows how to inspire the fans and get a team turning their form around.
Another possibility is Crystal Palace. The south London club are currently managed by Roy Hodgson who has held that role since 2017.
The Eagles seem to be in a stagnated period, not troubling the top end of the table but also never really in a relegation fight. Many believe Hodgson is also coming to the end of his spell at Palace, and potentially his career. He is 73 after all.
Lastly, could the England Job be on the cards? Southgate clearly has the backing from the FA. But he also has had critics in the last year for playing a formation and playing style that is too defensive for the abundance of attacking talent at his disposal.
In recent games, Southgate has played with up to eight players who are either defenders or considered defensive-minded players, which many feel is way too defensive for this England team.
Could Wilder’s exciting way of playing with overlapping central defenders be what the England fans are crying out for?
By Will Tyrrell
