Chris Wilder is the new man in the Vicarage Road dugout, after being announced as Watford’s Head Coach on Tuesday (March 7) on a contract running until the end of the 2022/23 season.
Arriving with a plethora of experience from both his playing days and in management, the 55-year-old is well equipped to take on the challenge of boosting the Hornets’ hopes of finishing in the Sky Bet Championship play-off places.
Ahead of his first match in the Watford hotseat, away at Queens Park Rangers this Saturday (March 11, 3pm KO), we take a look back at Wilder’s career, compiling all the essential information surrounding the new man at the helm.
Playing Days
Having started his playing career on the South Coast with Southampton, Wilder - who was born in Stocksbridge, South Yorkshire - moved north in search of more game time having not made a senior appearance for the Saints. His first break came for Sheffield United, who he joined in 1986.
The energetic full-back made over 100 appearances at Bramall Lane during six years at the club, becoming a regular on the teamsheet as the Blades were promoted to the Second Division in 1988/89, and then the First Division the season after.
Although Wilder would be loaned out to the likes of Walsall, Charlton Athletic and Leyton Orient towards the end of his first spell with United, his affection remained for the club and he would later revisit them both as a player again and as manager.
The next permanent step for the Englishman would come in 1992 when he made the short journey to Sheffield United’s local rivals Rotherham United. It would be with the Millers that Wilder would make the biggest impression as a player, amassing his highest total of appearances and goals for a single club.
After departing in 1996, short spells at Notts County and Bradford City followed before Wilder was reunited with the Blades in 1998, adding a further handful of appearances to his collection at Bramall Lane.
A brief stint at Brighton & Hove Albion came and went before the current Watford boss hung his boots up in 2001, after a last hurrah at Halifax Town and more than 50 games for the Shaymen.
First Steps Into Management
Wilder didn’t have to wait long on the sidelines before making the step back into football, joining Alfreton Town at the start of his distinguished managerial career in October 2001.
In just 27 weeks, Wilder brought instant success to the Reds, earning four trophies - the Northern Counties (East) League Premier Division title, the League Cup, the President’s Cup and the Derbyshire Senior Cup.
However, the opportunity to manage his former club Halifax Town, after less than a season at Alfreton, was too good to turn down and he moved back to West Yorkshire in July 2002.
He spent six years with the Shaymen as the former Town defender took charge of more than 300 matches during a tumultuous period at the club, impressively taking them to the Conference play-off final in 2006.
Following Halifax’s liquidation Wilder joined Alan Knill as assistant boss of Bury, before moving back into the managerial hot seat at Oxford United in December 2008. His six-year spell with the U’s included promotion to the Football League after beating York City in the play-offs in 2010, and maintaining their League Two status with consistent top-half finishes.
His impressive spell at Oxford would be followed by an equally remarkable job at Northampton Town, as Wilder kept the Cobblers in the Football League despite significant financial difficulties at the club, going on to win League Two in 2016.
Success At Sheffield United
His latest work hadn’t gone unnoticed and after over 300 games in total at both Oxford United and Northampton Town, Wilder was given the chance to re-join his first-ever club Sheffield United in May 2016, this time as manager.
Back at the Blades, his side earned a century of points in League One as they finished champions during his first campaign in charge, a club record for Sheffield United. The second-tier would take more time to adjust to, but Wilder guided them to a 10th-place finish and safety in their first Championship season since 2011.
It would be the 2018/19 season when he would announce himself to a national audience as Sheffield United were promoted to the Premier League, while Wilder was named LMA Manager of the Year.
Recent Work
In the 2019/20 top-flight campaign, Wilder took the Blades to ninth and their best finish in the league since 1992 with memorable victories over Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, alongside a quarter-final appearance in the Emirates FA Cup.
Having left Sheffield United in March 2021, Wilder found his most recent job at Middlesbrough later that year, winning the Championship Manager of the Month award in December 2021 after leading the Teessiders to four wins out of five.
He guided Boro to a seventh-place finish in the Championship last term, and enjoyed famous FA Cup successes over both Manchester United and Tottenham before departing in October 2022.
Wilder is now ready to bring all his knowledge and experience from his previous successes to The Vic, as he bids to kickstart the Hornets’ promotion push.
