Favourites to become next Sheffield United manager with departure confirmed

The top six favourites to become the next Sheffield United manager has been revealed with the departure of Chris Wilder confirmed.

The 53 year old, a boyhood fan of the Blades, is set to leave his role on Friday afternoon after almost five years in charge.

The Blades are bottom of the Premier League table and effectively 13 points from safety with 10 games of the season left.

🗣 “Chris Wilder told us he wanted to bring in three new signings, he put those names to the board but those signings didn’t happen.” @SkySports_Tim reports that there could’ve been tension with Chris Wilder and Sheffield United regarding recruitment pic.twitter.com/93YNkG4xIS

— Football Daily (@footballdaily) March 12, 2021

Ex-Sheffield United defender Wilder joined the Yorkshire club in May 2016 and took them from League One to the Premier League in that time.

They impressively finished ninth last season in their first year back in the league, and looked set to reach the European places, however along came lockdown and stoppage of the 2019/20 season before their form declined.

The current campaign has proved a real struggle and they have endured the worst start to a season in Premier League history.

Their first league win did not come until the 12th of January, in their 18th game, when they beat Newcastle.

Chris Wilder is expected to leave his role as Sheffield United manager today, according to reports 🚨 pic.twitter.com/HzBA9QehaR

— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) March 12, 2021

So who are the top six favourite to become the new Sheffield United manager? Find out for yourself below…

6) Frank Lampard

Frank Lampard, who was most recently sacked by Chelsea, is reportedly said to have no interest in becoming the new Bournemouth manager, Football Insider understands.

A source with knowledge of Lampard’s situation told Football Insider he does not want to be in the running to take over at the Vitality Stadium.

He is keen to assess his options before returning to management after leaving Chelsea last month.

Sky Bet odds: 11/1

5) Slaven Bilic

He was most recently in charge of West Brom, however after guiding them back to the Premier League at the first attempt last season, the Baggies thought picking up seven points from 13 league games, with eight defeats was the final straw, though they earned a surprise 1-1 draw at Manchester City on the day of the sacking.

Bilic, 52, signed a two-year contract when he took over at the The Hawthorns in June 2019, replacing Darren Moore, and went on to stay at the club for 18 months.

Hajduk Split – 2001 until 2002 – 16 games, 11 wins, 3 draws, 2 defeats, 68.75 win %
Croatia U21 – 1 July 2004 until 30 June 2006 – 19 games, 8 wins, 4 draws, 7 defeats, 42.11 win %
Croatia – 25 July 2006 until 14 May 2012 – 65 games, 42 wins, 15 draws, 8 defeats, 64.62 win %
Lokomotiv Moscow – 14 May 2012 until 18 June 2013 – 32 games, 13 wins, 7 draws, 12 defeats, 40.63 win %
Beşiktaş – 28 June 2013 until 21 May 2015 – 91 games, 47 wins, 22 draws, 22 defeats, 51.65 win %
West Ham United – 9 June 2015 until 4 November 2017 – 111 games, 42 wins, 30 draws, 39 defeats, 37.84 win %
Al-Ittihad – 5 October 2018 until 24 February 2019 – 17 games, 4 wins, 5 draws, 8 defeats, 23.53 win %
West Brom – 13 June 2019 until 16 December 2020 – 65 games, 26 wins, 22 draws, 17 defeats, 40.00 win %
Total – 416 games, 193 wins, 108 draws, 115 defeats, 46.39 win %

Sky Bet odds: 10/1

4) Danny Cowley

Cowley was most recently was sacked by Huddersfield Town, despite beating second-place West Brom in his last game in charge, which all-but-confirmed the club’s survival.

It’s understood that owner Phil Hodgkinson wanted total control over transfers — but his manager was not willing to work that way.

Danny first grabbed the attention of the country when he and his brother took Lincoln City all the way to the FA Cup Quarter Finals in 2017, causing shocks against Ipswich, Brighton and Burnley along the way.

The Imps finished the 2016/17 season crowned champions of the National League and then in the 2017/18 season finished 7th, claiming a playoff place in their first season back in the Football League and also won the EFL Trophy at Wembley.

In the 2018/19 season, Danny and Nicky Cowley’s side finished top of the League Two table and won promotion to League One.

Danny Cowley left League One high flyers Lincoln to join the Championship strugglers in September, who at the time were 23rd in the table having failed to win any of their first six matches.

Sky Bet odds: 8/1

3) Eddie Howe

Eddie Howe has been linked with many clubs for the manager’s position for however long he stays unemployed.

The 42-year-old guided the Cherries to more than 450 games across two spells spanning more than a decade but stepped down this summer following the club’s relegation to the Championship.

Their five-year stay in the top flight ended despite a 3-1 win at Everton on the final day of the season.

Howe also made more than 300 appearances as a player in the famous red and black stripes.

Howe was initially appointed AFC Bournemouth caretaker manager in December 2008, with the club sitting on -17 points at the bottom of the Football League.

Against all the odds he secured their safety and followed it with promotion from League Two the following season.

After a brief spell in charge of Burnley, a masterstroke from owner Maxim Demin bought Howe back to Dorset, and he then proceeded to achieve two further promotions in three seasons, leading the Cherries to the Premier League, where they remained for five years.

Sky Bet odds: 5/1

2) Paul Heckingbottom

Paul Heckingbottom is to set to become Sheffield United caretaker manager after Chris Wilder stands on the verge of departing by mutual consent.

He is currently a coach with Premier League strugglers and is set to step into the breach after the Blades boss opted to call it a day.

Heckingbottom has impressed with the U23s and appears set to be handed the opportunity on a temporary basis with the club looking to plan ahead.

HECKINGBOTTOM’S MANAGERIAL STATS:

Barnsley (caretaker) – 12 February 2015 until 25 February 2015 – 3 games, 2 wins, 0 draws, 1 defeats, 66.67 win %
Barnsley (caretaker) – 6 February 2016 until 15 June 2016 – 22 games, 14 wins, 5 draws, 3 defeats, 63.64 win %
Barnsley – 15 June 2016 until 6 February 2018 – 83 games, 23 wins, 23 draws, 37 defeats, 27.71 win %
Leeds United – 6 February 2018 until 1 June 2018 – 16 games, 4 wins, 4 draws, 8 defeats, 25.00 win %
Hibernian – 13 February 2019 until 4 November 2019 – 32 11 12 9 34.38 win %
Total – 156 games, 54 wins, 44 draws, 58 defeats, 34.62 win %

Sky Bet odds: 3/1

1) Neil Lennon

Lennon was most recently the manager of Scottish Premiership club Celtic.

During his playing career he represented the likes of Manchester City, Crewe Alexandra and Leicester City. Lennon moved to Celtic in 2000, where he made over 200 appearances and was appointed captain in 2005. Before retiring as a player, he returned to England and played for Nottingham Forest and Wycombe Wanderers. Lennon made 40 appearances for Northern Ireland in nine years, scoring two goals.

Lennon was appointed manager of Celtic in March 2010, initially in a caretaker capacity, after the departure of Tony Mowbray. Lennon had a great first spell of success as Celtic boss, winning three Scottish league championships, two Scottish Cups, qualifying for the group stage of the Champions League twice and the knockout stages once, before leaving the club in May 2014. After an unsuccessful spell with Bolton Wanderers, where the club suffered financial problems, Lennon went back to Scottish football in 2016 with Hibernian. He led them to a promotion in his first season as head coach, and European qualification in his second season, before leaving Hibernian in January 2019.

Lennon returned to Celtic in February 2019, initially on an interim basis for the rest of the 2018–19 season, and guided them to the league and Scottish Cup titles. His contract was renewed and he led Celtic to the Scottish league title again in 2019–20. He also led the team to a fourth consecutive domestic treble by also winning the League Cup and the Scottish Cup that season. Lennon left Celtic in February 2021, as the club had fallen far behind Rangers in the 2020–21 Scottish Premiership.

LENNON’S MANAGERIAL STATS:

Celtic – 25 March 2010 until 22 May 2014 – 227 games, 159 wins, 29 draws, 39 defeats, 70.04 win %
Bolton Wanderers – 12 October 2014 until 15 March 2016 – 79 games, 18 wins, 26 draws, 35 defeats, 22.78 win %
Hibernian – 8 June 2016 until 30 January 2019 – 123 games, 59 wins, 40 draws, 24 defeats, 47.97 win %
Celtic – 26 February 2019 until 24 February 2021 – 110 games, 77 wins, 17 draws, 16 defeats 70.00 win %
Total – 539 games, 313 wins, 112 draws, 114 defeats, 58.07 win %

Sky Bet odds: 3/1

OTHERS LISTED:

Garry Monk – 16/1
Mark Hughes – 20/1
Steve Bruce – 16/1
David Wagner – 16/1
John Terry – 18/1
Roberto Martinez – 25/1
Nigel Adkins – 22/1
Rafael Benitez – 25/1

Fans reacted as the favourites to become next Sheffield United manager are revealed with the departure of Chris Wilder is confirmed…

@mikegcarter88: I know they haven’t been great this year but tell me who is better suited for the job than him? Why not take it on the chin this year and go again? Pep wouldn’t keep them up now so why sack him?

@AlgernonFlying: Look at Norwich. Kept faith with Farke.

@feefee2410: Season ticket holder for all my life, travelled home and away in all weathers. The most irresponsible decision ever made. I’m done. Football stinks. Sheffield United Board stinks. I’ve cried. That shouldn’t happen to a 46 year old.

@failedmuso: This is sad. He’s given so much to the club. Norwich City used to do this. Get promoted, struggle, sack the manager, languish for a few years then rinse and repeat. But by sticking with Farke, we’re on the verge of an immediate return. Clubs need to build, not rip and replace.

@goodysonx74: Short memories, the lad had Sheff Utd playing some great football and have no doubt he would have brought them back up. Has had some terrible luck this season for sure.

@DanNicholls03: Just makes no sense at all, clearly been a huge bust up behind the scenes to do it at this time

@Bluefox63: Seems a crazy decision, especially with only 10 games left. Wilder has done a fantastic job, I know things haven’t gone well this season but am sure he would have got Sheffield United straight back up again next season. Always very honest with his assessments in interviews too.

@tommywalkerco: Makes no sense? If they were going to get rid of him, they should have at the beginning of the season to give someone else a go to keep them safe. It made sense to keep him there still because they are definitely getting relegated and therefore can look to next season?

@ConnorMillward8: From a life long blade and season ticket holder and on behalf of every single blade out there this is single handle the worst decision this club has ever made. Be an absolute manhunt for the board when fans are back in ground.

@DoPradista: Ridiculous decision. Who on earth do they think they are going to get who’d be better for the club?

@FlexUTD: Chris Wilder done a great job with that team. That squad on paper had no where near enough quality to compete in the Prem and he made that possible especially after the big promotions with them. Wish him well.

@ZacQuinn: something must have happened behind the scenes here … if they were going to sack him it would’ve made sense 10 games ago, it makes none now

@Certifiedopeboi: Pretty sad to see Chris Wilder leave his role as Sheffield United’s manager after how good they were last season . Unfortunately, this season he hasn’t been able to spur the team to reach anything close to how well they played last season.

@anfieldredsss: Great manager who did a great job for them.

@jayodoyle: Kept faith with our manager and now we’re on our way back up. I haven’t a doubt in my mind Sheff Utd would’ve done the same under Wilder. Chances are they’ll be stuck in championship for the foreseeable future. Crazy decision

@iam_wilsons: Chris Wilder went from Manager of the Season nominee last season to being without a job today. Football is a crazy game.

@rebekkarnold: Absolutely the wrong decision, another sacking similar to Ranieri, club gets too big for its boots.

@clivebennett: Crazy decision. They’re down, nothing is going to change that. Even last season’s great season aside, he got them up last time. Surely let him try and do that again.

@IAL1: Absolutely furious, we’ve been decimated by injuries, to get this squad up to Prem league standard would take twice as much as we’ve spent, missed nearly all our first choice signings due to wage structure, can’t blame Wilder for that, reality is we came up too quick.

@APJHansard: Terrible decision. He would have got them up next year

@warpedpolecat: Awful decision. Thanks for everything Chris.

@StuLoversidge: Makes no sense at all. Not going to stay up. So who is the best man to get them back up the following season? Probably the man that got them there in the first place!! Football is broken.

Chris Wilder sacked 🤷🏽‍♂️🤔😳😩 The game I love is crazy at times ⚽️ Not heard any of the fans shouting for his head but as a manager you do expect the unexpected. Well done Chris – despite current position in the table, what a great 5 years you have had 👏🏽👏🏻

— Chris Kamara (@chris_kammy) March 12, 2021

No one person is bigger than the club but @SheffieldUnited you have let the best thing to ever happen to our club walk out the door , the man who gave us our club back .
Chris Wilder no matter where you are you will always be
ONE OF OUR OWN 💔⚔️ #sufc #twitterblades pic.twitter.com/5YTWVC1kg5

— Dave Ward (@wardyblade1975) March 12, 2021