A former chairman of Chris Wilder says Sheffield United should be “expecting the call” about their coveted manager.
Wilder has earned plenty of new fans this season as the Blades continue to impress in the Premier League under his guidance.
Their 1-1 draw at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday leaves them seventh in the table after 14 games. They are unbeaten in seven away matches this season. That hasn’t been achieved by a newly promoted side since Blackburn Rovers in 1992/93.
Wilder has been linked with several other managerial jobs and Kelvin Thomas can see why. Thomas was the 52-year-old’s chairman at both Oxford United and Northampton Town.
Wilder got Oxford promoted from the Conference and then lead Northampton to the League Two title. He took over at Bramall Lane in the summer of 2016 and guided them back to the top flight with two promotions in three years.
“What he expects out of players is very similar to what Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp demand,” Thomas told the Telegraph.
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“As a manager he’s incredibly forward thinking, always encouraging his staff to ensure they are at the forefront of the industry.
“Any club in Europe should be looking at Chris Wilder. If I was chairman of Sheffield United I’d be expecting the call at any time.”
Is his former chairman right about Wilder?
Every time a Premier League boss is sacked it seems it won’t be long until Wilder is named as a potential successor. Arsenal are currently searching for a permanent replacement for Unai Emery following his sacking.
So it should be no surprise Peter Crouch says Wilder should be that man in his Daily Mail column. Prior to that, it was reported that West Ham United wanted the Yorkshireman if they dismissed Manuel Pellegrini.
As a boyhood Blades fan and academy product, it won’t be easy tempting Wilder away from Bramall Lane. However, if would also be naive to think that someone with ambition wouldn’t be tempted by these roles.
The catch-22 is the better the Blades play, the more likely Wilder is to be tapped up by other clubs.