Ranking Sheffield United's top 7 best managers on PPG - Nigel Clough = 3rd | OneFootball

Sheffield United may have endured a torrid 2023-24 season, but they have had some fantastic managers take their place in the Bramall Lane dugout over the years.

After a terrific campaign in the Championship during their last stint in the second tier under Paul Heckingbottom, the Blades were hoping to survive in the top-flight, but expectations in the Premier League last term quickly shifted after a dismal season, with Chris Wilder in the hotseat as they were relegated with just 16 points and at the foot of the division.

That being said, the Blades have had some outstanding managers during some unforgettable seasons over the years, but who is the best? We looked at Transfermarkt to find the best Sheffield United manager according to PPG (points per game).

*Please note: All managers must have taken charge of at least 25 games.

7 Neil Warnock - 1.54 PPG

Just squeezing into the top seven is one of the biggest characters involved in he game right now, even if perhaps his management days are now behind him.

Neil Warnock led Sheffield United between 1999 and 2007 and enjoyed some real success during his time at Bramall Lane, which contributed to a PPG of 1.54 from a whopping 383 games in charge for what is a club icon, having gained them promotion to the Premier League during that time as well.

6 Kevin Blackwell - 1.56 PPG

Kevin Blackwell spent two-and-a-half years as manager during the period from 2008 and 2010 with real success to his name as well, despite losing to Burnley in the play-off final.

He has barely seen much time in management since, but during his spell in South Yorkshire, he achieved a points per game average of 1.56 from 125 games in charge.

5 Howard Kendall - 1.60 PPG

Kendall took charge of the Blades from December 1995 until June 1997, initially saving the club from relegation and then taking them to the 1997 play-off final, which was lost to Crystal Palace.

He passed away in 2015, but had three successful stints as Everton manager in his career, but with Sheffield United, he managed them 48 times for a PPG record of 1.60.

4 Paul Heckingbottom - 1.65 PPG

The beginning of this season will have severely damaged Paul Heckingbottom's ranking on this list, but he enjoyed a highly successful campaign last year. We've excluded his time as caretaker boss, so he took over the job permanently in November 2022 and remained in charge until December of this year.

Since then, he has taken charge of 98 Blades matches, achieving 1.65 PPG per game, and will still be remembered fondly for the 2022/23 season in charge of the club.

3 Nigel Clough - 1.72 PPG

Nigel Clough comes in at number three on the list, having managed the club between October 2013 and May 2015.

Clough managed 104 games whilst the club were down in League One, but failed to guide them to promotion, but the experienced coach achieved an average PPG of 1.72 to take the bronze medal.

2 Nigel Spackman - 1.79 PPG

Former Blades boss Nigel Spackman claims the silver medal on this list, after he took charge at Bramall Lane from July 1997 until March 1998, overseeing 33 matches.

His PPG from those games, initially as player-manager, is an impressive 1.79. Spackman was unhappy over the lack of replacements for Brian Deane and resigned.

1 Danny Wilson

The most successful Sheffield United manager ever, according to points per game, is Danny Wilson.

Wilson led the club for two years and 106 games between May 2011 and April 2013, which secured him a PPG average of 1.83.

He helped the club achieve third and fifth placed finishes in League One, but could ultimately not guide them to promotion to the Championship.