Wilder replaces Selles for third Sheff Utd stint

Chris Wilder is back at his beloved Sheffield United for a third time as manager, three months after he was sacked to make way for Ruben Selles.

Wilder replaces Selles who was axed on Sunday following the Blades' 5-0 thrashing at Ipswich, which left them bottom of the Championship with no points.

Wilder, who turns 58 next Tuesday, was sacked by United's American owners, COH Sports, after they lost to Sunderland in the Championship play-off at Wembley.

COH Sports have re-appointed Wilder on a contract until 2027 after Selles' disastrous spell as the former Southampton, Reading and Hull boss lost all six of his matches in charge.

After supporting the Blades as a kid, Wilder's professional relationship with the club began almost 40 years ago as a player in 1986.

The former defender spent six years at Bramall Lane before leaving to join Rotherham and then returned for a brief spell in 1998.

After winning promotion at Oxford and Northampton, Wilder began his first spell as United boss in 2016 and steered them to the League One title in his first season.

The Blades finished runners-up in the Championship in 2019, sealing a return to the Premier League for the first time since 2007 under Neil Warnock.

They excelled in their first season back in the top tier, beating Everton, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea on the way to finishing ninth, their best placing since 1975.

United nosedived the following season and Wilder left with the club bottom of the top flight in March 2021.

Wilder had spells at Middlesbrough and Watford before returning to Bramall Lane in December 2023 to succeed Paul Heckingbottom with the club again bottom of the Premier League.

He could not save the side from relegation, but he amassed 90 points to finish third last season before enduring the heartbreak of suffering a 90th-minute defeat to Sunderland.

BBC Radio Sheffield's Rob Staton

It's a sensational return for Wilder, having only left the club in June. His initial departure came after recording 92 points last season - two were deducted before the start of the season - and reaching the Championship play-off final.

It was a controversial decision to part ways and the new plan simply hasn't worked. Any complaints anyone might've had about last year were quickly put into perspective when United started this season with six straight defeats.

Key players who flourished under Wilder - Harrison Burrows, Michael Cooper, Sydie Pieck - have all looked a shadow of their former selves.

Gus Hamer, last year's top player in the Championship, was reduced to sitting on the bench as Ipswich hit United for five on Friday. So was Tyrese Campbell. Another pair who were instrumental to the club's success last season.

The owners appear to be admitting defeat, holding their hands up and making amends. It's rare you see that level of humility in football.

Wilder loves Sheffield United and will be jumping at the chance to get back in and get things going again. He knows the club better than anyone, will be able to walk back in and crack on quickly.

It's an incredible set of events that will be all the more remarkable if he turns United's season around. There's still plenty of time left to get them up the table.