Former Sheffield United Boss Appointed As New Watford Manager

Former Sheffield United Boss Appointed As New Watford Manager

Former Sheffield United head coach Chris Wilder has been named as the new manager of Watford, mere minutes after they announced the sacking of previous boss Slaven Bilic.

Watford are currently 10th in the Championship following a largely disappointing season – despite having top talents such as Joao Pedro and Ismailia Sarr, they’ve generally underwhelmed throughout the campaign.

Bilic’s last game in charge of the Hornets was a drab 0-0 draw against Preston North End – he had managed teams such as West Ham, West Brom and the Croatian national team.

Outside of the Blades and Watford, Wilder has managed teams such as Oxford United, Northampton Town and Middlesbrough (now managed by former Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick). Watford will be the seventh club he has managed since 2001.

Wilder managed Sheffield United from 2016 to 2021 – he was a very well-respected figure during his time at the club. He guided United to their first Premier League stint in 11 years back in 2019, helping to keep them up the following season before he left in March 2021.

A boyhood Blade, Wilder is arguably one of the best managers Sheffield United have ever had. In total, he accumulated a win percentage of 46.7% at the club – additionally, he also enjoyed two spells at Bramall Lane as a player.

Can he replicate the success he enjoyed at Sheffield United at Watford? His last job, at Middlesbrough, ultimately ended in failure – Wilder will be keen to prove he is still an elite football manager.