Playing position 1982–1986 Southampton | Name Chris Wilder Role Serial Killer | |
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Full name Christopher John Wilder Date of birth (1967-09-23) 23 September 1967 (age 48) Place of birth Stocksbridge, Sheffield, England Current team Northampton Town (manager) Died April 13, 1984, Colebrook, New Hampshire, United States | ||
The Story Of Chris Wilder
Christopher John Wilder (born 23 September 1967) is an English former professional footballer, and is the manager of EFL Championship club Sheffield United.
Contents
- The Story Of Chris Wilder
- Playing career
- Alfreton Town
- Halifax Town
- Oxford United
- Northampton Town
- Sheffield United
- Managerial statistics
- As a manager
- References
His extensive professional playing career saw spells at Sheffield United (twice), Rotherham United, Notts County, Bradford City, Brighton & Hove Albion and Halifax Town. He also had loan spells at five different clubs.
After retiring, he became a manager and was in charge of Alfeton Town, Halifax Town (their last manager before liquidation), Oxford United and Northampton Town before his appointment at Sheffield United.
Playing career
Wilder was born in Stocksbridge, West Riding of Yorkshire. He started his career as a trainee at Southampton and was released without making it into the first team. He moved on to Sheffield United in August 1986 and during his career he played for 11 clubs, including a long spell at Rotherham United before joining Halifax Town in 1999.
Alfreton Town
Wilder began his career in management at Alfreton Town. He took over at the club in late October 2001 and in the 27 weeks he was in charge won four trophies: the Northern Counties (East) League Premier Division, the League Cup, the President's Cup and the Derbyshire Senior Cup.
Halifax Town
Wilder returned to Halifax Town as manager on 2 July 2002. He replaced caretaker manager Neil Redfearn, who had in turn replaced Alan Little (who left on 8 April after falling ill with appendicitis in March). Halifax had been relegated to the Conference at the end of the season.
Wilder was in charge at Halifax for more than 300 games until the club went into liquidation on 30 June 2008, and he decided to join former Halifax defender Alan Knill, as the assistant manager of Bury.
Oxford United
After less than six months at Gigg Lane, Wilder was appointed as the manager of Conference National club Oxford United on 21 December 2008, where he only just missed out on a play-off place in his first season. Wilder's first full season in charge of Oxford began successfully and by mid-season they were top of the Conference table by five points with a game in hand. However, Oxford were overtaken by Stevenage Borough, who would go on to win the title and take the automatic promotion place, consigning the Us to the playoffs with Luton Town, Rushden & Diamonds and York City. They defeated Rushden & Diamonds to reach the play-off final, and gained promotion to the Football League by beating York City 3–1.
In their first season back in the Football League in four years, Wilder guided Oxford to mid-table safety. The team finished 12th, in the top half of the table, their highest finish in seven years. The next season Oxford finished ninth, after poor form late in the season led to the team dropping out of the play-off position they had occupied for most of the year. Oxford's chairman Kelvin Thomas gave Wilder his backing, meaning he would remain manager for the 2012–13 season. Despite failing to achieve a play-off place again in Oxford's third season back in the League, and intense speculation about his future at the club, Wilder was offered and accepted a further one-year contract for the 2013–14 season.
On 26 January 2014 he resigned as Oxford manager with the intention of joining League Two rivals Northampton Town as their manager.
Northampton Town
On 27 January 2014 Wilder was appointed manager of Northampton Town, signing a three-and-a-half year contract. Wilder successfully battled imminent relegation to the Conference, after taking over the club in the relegation zone in League 2. He led the side to a mid-table finish in 2014–15, and then to the League Two title the following season with 99 points.
Sheffield United
On 12 May 2016, Wilder joined his boyhood club Sheffield United as their new manager on a three-year contract, following the parting of company with Nigel Adkins. He oversaw Sheffield United's promotion into the EFL Championship as champions in his first season securing 100 points in the process.
Managerial statistics
As of match played 24 September 2017As a manager
Alfreton Town
Oxford United
Northampton Town
Sheffield United