Where are the last five Sheffield United managers now? | OneFootball

In his time at Sheffield United, Prince Abdullah has seen six different permanent managers including the current occupant, Chris Wilder. With the takeover reportedly closer than ever. It’s the perfect time to reflect on the Prince’s previous United managers and where they are now.

Paul Heckingbottom

It is well-known where Heckingbottom is since leaving the Blades in December 2023. Since August, he has been the manager of Preston North End.

In his four months at Deepdale, Heckingbottom has turned a side that couldn’t lay a glove on the Blades, into a competitive mid-table Championship side.

Heckingbottom’s time at Bramall Lane is well documented. To summarise, Heckingbottom has meant a lot to the Prince’s era. Technically, Heckingbottom was the first successful Blades manager appointed by the Prince during his 100% ownership of the club. With Wilder’s first appointment being part of the joint ownership between Kevin McCabe and the Prince.

Another highlight of Heckingbottom’s time for the Prince was his ability to turn the tide and gain promotion. This turn around of a low confidence squad during a time of ongoing takeover speculation was miraculous. In hindsight, Heckingbottom may have delivered the Prince one last promotion with the Blades.

From a financial point of view, Heckingbottom’s earlier academy appointment also worked out for the Blades’ owner. With Heckingbottom bringing through the likes of Iliman Ndiaye and William Osula. The attacking pair’s reported initial fees have seen the club bank around £35 million in sales in recent years.

Ultimately, Heckingbottom was a great manager for the Prince. So, it was undoubtedly a difficult decision for the pair to part this time last year.

Prince Abdullah, when speaking about Heckingbottom’s sacking to TalkSport, said: “I have mixed emotions about letting Paul go. I really have a lot of respect for Paul and everything he did for the club.”

Slavisa Jokanovic

(Photo by Lewis Storey/Getty Images)

The first manager hired permanently under the Prince’s sole ownership and unfortunately it didn’t work out.

His appointment was logical, a proven Premier League promotion winner, Jokanovic seemed the perfect fit for a side recently relegated from the top flight. In fact, to many at the time, the Prince’s team had seemingly pulled off quite the coup.

After a summer of decent additions like Morgan Gibbs-White and Ben Davies. The club looked to be headed in the right direction. Although, noticeably for a manager who liked using wingers, the Blades started the summer with no natural wingers. Before ending the summer with the winger count still at zero.

This along with a likely hangover from the season before and other issues saw Jokanovic win just 8 games. His win percentage as Blades boss ended up being just 36.36%.

Jokanovic is currently without a managerial position. After leaving Bramall Lane, he joined Dynamo Moscow but was dismissed by the Russian club in May 2023. He had recently been linked with the Hull City job that went to Rubén Sellés.

Optimistically, the reported interest from the Tigers shows there is still an appetite for Jokanovic in the Championship.

Nigel Adkins

(Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)

Nigel Adkins was the last manager before Wilder. His season at Bramall Lane only goes to highlight how impressive Chris Wilder’s success with the club is. Although, at the time of his appointment, he was an equal coup to that of Jokanovic.

Adkins had completed for Southampton what Wilder would do for the Blades. Only he actually did it quicker. He took over the Saints in League One before gaining successive promotions to the Premier League. Adkins’ replacement on the South Coast being future Champions League finalist, Mauricio Pochettino, highlighted his impressive work.

Ultimately, the Blades hired a Premier League proven manager. Most importantly, one who had climbed the mountain they were aiming to summit. Unfortunately for Adkins, this time his tenure was the underwhelming calm before the most beautiful Wilder storm.

Adkins’ one season with the Blades saw the club finish in our lowest league position (11th) since 1983.

After leaving Bramall Lane, Adkins managed Hull City and Charlton Athletic. Since September 2023, he has been the manager of Tranmere Rovers. His side currently sit in 19th place in League Two.

Ultimately, Nigel Adkins is a good manager. His appointment similar to Jokanovic’s, goes to show some managers just don’t fit certain clubs. Chris Wilder’s later success proving the point further. The right manager can take the right club to the top table.

Nigel Clough

(Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

They often say that the original is better than the sequel. In Clough’s case, he certainly was the more successful Nigel at Bramall Lane.

The term ‘cup-manager’ likely best sums up Clough’s time at the club. His ability to pull off an upset continues to leave him high on the list of manager’s to call should the Blades need to win a one-off game.

His first cup-run was special and epitomised the magic of the FA Cup. The Blades reached the semi-final losing in extra-time to then Premier League side Hull City. Most impressively, the Blades triumph in the Quarter-finals had seen the Blades win nine consecutive games in all competitions.

This impressive form saw the Blades narrowly miss out on the playoffs finishing 7th. Bare in mind, the Blades were 22nd in League One at the time of his arrival. For his efforts, Clough was named the LMA FA Cup Manager of the Season.

In 2014-15, Clough led the Blades to the EFL Cup semi-finals, where they were narrowly knocked out by Spurs. Christian Eriksen gave the North London club an 88th minute aggregate winner at Bramall Lane.

Clough also led the Blades to the playoffs finishing 5th. Unfortunately, defeat in the semi-finals saw Clough leave at the end of the season.

Since leaving the Blades, Clough has managed Burton Albion. He helped the Brewers gain promotion to the Championship for the first-time in their history.

He is currently the manager of Mansfield Town, with his captain being former Blades academy graduate, Louis Reed. Clough’s Stags recently gained promotion to League One. This saw Clough be named last season’s League Two Manager of the Season.

David Weir

When Prince Abdullah became joint-owner in September 2013. Weir was the current Blades manager. Although, he would last just a month into the Prince’s tenure departing the club in October 2013.

The Blades remain Weir’s only managerial position in professional football. Weir lost 10, drew two and won one of his 13 games in charge at Bramall Lane.

After leaving, Bramall Lane, Weir has been assistant manager to Mark Warburton at Brentford, Rangers and Nottingham Forest.

He is now Brighton and Hove Albion’s Technical Director after joining the Seagulls as a Player Pathway Manager.

Takeaways

Overall, the managers during Prince Abdullah’s time at the club have been a mixed bag with more positives than negatives. Adkins and Jokanovic are the only two underwhelming appointments during his time at the club. But, in fairness both looked like great appointments at the time.

Paul Heckingbottom and Nigel Clough, whilst in different leagues gave the Blades great memories and stability during difficult times. Both took the club on cup-runs and turned around stagnating and confidence-knocked sides. With Heckingbottom taking the Blades over the line when it comes to promotion.

Finally, the Prince’s ownership will forever be linked with Wilder and getting the club back to the Premier League. Perhaps, the Prince’s greatest decision was to convince Wilder to come back. Then back him for this season’s rebuild when many other owners may have simply waited for the takeover.

Should the takeover go through. The Prince has given Wilder the tools for a great start to the Championship. Whilst, for Blades, amidst the uncertainty that takeovers can bring. The Prince has left us in the dependable, secure hands of one of our own.