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 clubs.
After retiring, he became a manager and was in charge of Alfreton Town, Halifax Town (their last manager before liquidation), Oxford United and Northampton Town before his appointment at Sheffield United.
Wilder was born in Stocksbridge, West Riding of Yorkshire.[1] He started his career as a trainee at Southampton and was released without making it into the first team.[2] 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.[3][4] 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.[5]
Oxford United
After fewer than six months at Gigg Lane, Wilder was appointed as the manager of Conference National club Oxford United on 21 December 2008,[6] 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, 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.[7]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.[8] 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.[9] Oxford's chairman Kelvin Thomas gave Wilder his backing, meaning he would remain manager for the 2012–13 season.[10] 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.[11]
On 26 January 2014 he resigned as Oxford manager with the intention of joining League Two rivals Northampton Town as their manager.[12]
Northampton Town
On 27 January 2014, Wilder was appointed manager of Northampton Town, signing a three-and-a-half year contract. Wilder successfully battled against relegation to the Conference, after taking over the club in the relegation zone in League 2.[13] He led the side to a mid-table finish in the 2014–15 season, and then to the League Two title the following season with 99 points.[14]
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.[15][16] In pre-season he was able to bring some new players in, with little financial backing, a lot of his acquisitions were free transfers. He then made Sheffield born Billy Sharp club captain. Sharp, like Wilder, is a life long Blades fan. Wilder's managerial League One debut didn't get off to a good start. Having only gained a single point from the first 4 games left United at the bottom of League One.[17] After the poor start however the club pushed on and went on to become League One Champions securing 100 points in the process, a club record.[18]His second season was full of highs and few lows. His managerial Championship debut against Brentford ended in a 1–0 win for Sheffield United.[19] Then in September 2017, United beat city rivals Sheffield Wednesday 4–2 at Hillsborough,[20] a record for goals scored by United against Wednesday at Hillsborough. By the end of October, after beating local rivals Leeds United 2–1 at Elland Road, Sheffield United were top of the Championship.[21]
On 28 April 2019, it was confirmed that Wilder had led the Blades to the Premier League following nearest rival Leeds' 1–1 draw at home.[22] This ensured his second promotion in just three years at the club. This achievement earned him the LMA Manager of the Year award.[23]
In July 2019, Wilder signed a new three-year contract with the club.[24]
Managerial statistics
- As of match played 28 September 2019[25]
| Team | From | To | Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | Win % | |||
| Halifax Town | 2 July 2002 | 30 June 2008 | 312 | 120 | 77 | 115 | 38.5 |
| Oxford United | 21 December 2008 | 26 January 2014 | 269 | 121 | 70 | 78 | 45.0 |
| Northampton Town | 27 January 2014 | 12 May 2016 | 126 | 61 | 28 | 37 | 48.4 |
| Sheffield United | 12 May 2016 | Present | 160 | 84 | 34 | 42 | 52.5 |
| Total | 867 | 386 | 209 | 272 | 44.5 | ||
As a manager
Alfreton Town[26]- Northern Counties East Football League Premier Division: 2001–02
- Northern Counties East Football League League Cup: 2001–02
- Northern Counties East Football League Presidents Cup: 2001–02
- Derbyshire Senior Cup: 2001–02
- Conference Premier play-offs: 2010
Sheffield United
- EFL League One: 2016–17[28][27]
- EFL Championship runners-up: 2018–19
- Football League Two Manager of the Month: January 2015,[29] November 2015,[30] January 2016,[31] February 2016[32]
- LMA League Two Manager of the Year: 2015–16[33]
- EFL League One Manager of the Month: April 2017[34]
- LMA League One Manager of the Year: 2016–17[33]
- EFL Championship Manager of the Month: February 2019,[35] April 2019[36]
- LMA Championship Manager of the Year: 2018–19[23]
- LMA Special Achievement Award: 2016–17[33]
- LMA Manager of the Year: 2018–19[23]
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