What to Expect From Ruben Selles’ Sheffield United Side as Spaniard Speaks as Blades Boss For First Time | OneFootball

After announcing the mutually agreed decision to move on from Chris Wilder, Sheffield United have quickly confirmed Spanish coach Ruben Selles as their new man.

Formerly of Southampton, Reading and Hull City, Selles joins the Blades on a three-year deal with further coaching appointments to follow in due course.

Selles successfully kept Hull City in the Championship last season, despite taking over with the club bottom of the league. He led the Tigers to an impressive 3-0 win at Bramall Lane against United which was key to their survival.

Before taking over at Hull, the 42-year-old led Reading impressively to sixth place in League One in spite of off-field turmoil. His managerial experience also includes working in the Premier League with Southampton.

Ruben Selles’ First Words As Sheffield United Manager

On his arrival, Selles said:

“When we first heard about the possibility of coming here, it was a no brainer for us to join a club with this kind of history and with a mission to move forward and try to be even more competitive.

This is a very powerful and ambitious project. It was very important at the start of the conversations that everyone is on the same page. We need to embrace data and new technologies, but the most important thing is not to forget the football essence. I think we are capable of delivering a good model and optimise our performance by using all the tools that we have.

Our identity is always very clear. We want to be aggressive, we want to make things happen. So, the fans can expect a team which is not going to wait or be reactive, we will be proactive, we are going to go and try and be as competitive as we can in every single game. If we can do that then we’ll give ourselves a very good chance of winning games.”

What Can the Blades Expect From Ruben Selles?

PORTSMOUTH, ENGLAND – MAY 03: Ruben Selles, Manager of Hull City celebrates at the final whistle the Sky Bet Championship match between Portsmouth FC and Hull City AFC at Fratton Park on May 03, 2025 in Portsmouth, England. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)

Having watched his Reading and Hull City teams, a typical Ruben Selles team plays at a high intensity and possesses great dynamism. The Spaniard wants to defend from the front, meaning his team likes to press high as opposed to sitting back.

In possession, Selles likes to have his sides enter the final third as quickly as possible, but in a controlled way – it’s not just hoofing it long and hoping for a flick-on for example.

He told the Coaches Voice last year: “My team should be able to apply a high level of counter-pressure, to get a lot from transitions when we regain the ball. We love the ‘organised chaos’.”

COH Sports are taking a huge risk in parting ways with Chris Wilder after finishing on 90 points and getting to the Championship play-off final, but they have clearly pinpointed Ruben Selles believing he is the man to steer the Blades into a new era as they wish to progress the football club in a more modern structure.

Selles, who is believed will act more as a head coach type of figure rather than a traditional manager, has very big boots to fill immediately replacing Wilder. His philosophy is certainly very intriguing and positive, but will that result in success on the pitch in the 2025/26 Championship campaign?