Chris Wilder · Biography

Christopher John Wilder was born on 23 September 1967 in Stocksbridge, in what was then the West Riding of Yorkshire, and came through the youth system at Southampton between 1982 and 1986. Released without a first-team appearance, he returned to South Yorkshire and built a long career as a right-back before moving into management. As a manager he won promotions with Alfreton Town, Oxford United, Northampton Town and Sheffield United.

Playing career

Wilder signed for Sheffield United in 1986 and made 93 league appearances over six seasons, scoring once. During that spell he went out on loan to Walsall in 1989, Charlton Athletic in 1990 and 1991, and Leyton Orient in 1992. Later in 1992 he joined Rotherham United, where he played 132 league games, scored 11 goals and was named in the PFA Team of the Year for the Second Division in 1995-96. He then played for Notts County (1996-97) and Bradford City (1997-98). After that came a brief return to Bramall Lane, loans at Northampton Town and Lincoln City, and a short stay at Brighton & Hove Albion in 1999. He finished his playing career at Halifax Town between 1999 and 2001, with 414 league appearances and 14 goals in total.

Alfreton and Halifax

His first managerial job came at Alfreton Town in October 2001. In 2001-02 the non-league club won four trophies: the Northern Counties East League Premier Division, the league’s Cup and President’s Cup, and the Derbyshire Senior Cup. On 2 July 2002 he took over at Halifax Town, who had just dropped into the Conference. He stayed for six years and 312 matches and won the West Riding County Cup in 2003-04. He left in 2008, when the club went into liquidation. He then worked briefly as assistant to Alan Knill at Bury.

Oxford United

Oxford United appointed Wilder manager on 21 December 2008. In 2010 he took the club back into the Football League through the Conference Premier play-offs, beating York City 3-1 in the final. He was in charge for just over five years and 269 matches, and resigned on 26 January 2014 to join League Two rivals Northampton Town.

Northampton Town

When he arrived, Northampton were in the League Two relegation zone, and he kept them in the Football League. The 2015-16 season was played during serious financial trouble: players and staff went unpaid in October and November 2015. Even so, the team won the League Two title with 99 points. Wilder was named EFL Manager of the Season and LMA League Two Manager of the Year.

Sheffield United, 2016-2021

On 12 May 2016 he returned to Sheffield United as manager. The Blades won League One in 2016-17 with 100 points, a club record. Two seasons later they finished runners-up in the Championship, and promotion to the Premier League was confirmed on 28 April 2019. He was voted LMA Manager of the Year for 2018-19. In 2019-20, their first season back in the top flight, Sheffield United finished ninth. On 13 March 2021 he left by mutual consent, with the team bottom of the Premier League on 14 points from 28 matches.

Middlesbrough and Watford

Middlesbrough appointed him on 7 November 2021, and he was named Championship Manager of the Month for December 2021. In the 2021-22 FA Cup his side knocked out Manchester United on penalties and Tottenham Hotspur after extra time. They then lost 2-0 to Chelsea in the quarter-final at the Riverside on 19 March 2022. He was dismissed on 3 October 2022 after 45 matches. On 7 March 2023 he took over at Watford on a short-term deal, which ended in May 2023 after 11 games.

Return to Bramall Lane

Wilder went back to Sheffield United on 5 December 2023 but could not prevent relegation, which was confirmed by a 5-1 defeat to Newcastle United on 27 April 2024. In 2024-25 the Blades finished third in the Championship and reached the play-off final, losing 2-1 to Sunderland on 24 May 2025. His contract was terminated in June 2025. After Rubén Sellés left, the club appointed Wilder for a third spell on 15 September 2025.