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After guiding Sheffield United from the depths of League One to the dizzying heights of the Premier League, who could possibly replace Sheffield’s own Chris Wilder?
With Sheffield United facing the likelihood of relegation from the Premier League to the Championship, the Blades need a manager who can rebuild after a calamitous season.
Paul Heckingbottom
Paul Heckingbottom has already been given the role of interim manager at United, but if he shines in his new role, he could be given the job when a pemanent manager is assigned at the end of the season.
Heckingbottom is already the bookies favourite, with 2/1 odds. He won the EFL Trophy with Barnsley in 2016, as well as gaining promotion from League One to the Championship with the same side. However, he lacks Premier League managerial experience and after his defeat on Sunday to Leicester City 5-0, United’s owners may search for someone more comfortable with top-flight football.
Eddie Howe
Credit- Stuart Bramley
Nothing defines Eddie Howe’s managerial career as much as the word promotion.
He guided Bournemouth all the way from League Two to the Premier League after securing three promotions. If the Blades want a promotion specialist to get back to the top as quickly as possible, the 2015 winner of the Football League’s Manager of the Decade award is their man.
Howe already has links to United with his former assistant at Bournemouth, Jason Tindall, joining the coaching staff.
Jason Tindall
While Tindall has worked Eddie Howe for most of his career, he does have managerial experience himself and is already on the coaching staff at Sheffield United.
Tindall most recently had a seven-month stint as the manager of Bournemouth, which ended with his sacking in February after a string of poor results.
He may be an outside choice to become the Blades’ new manager, but his position within the coaching staff may make him the natural successor to Heckingbottom if he is snubbed for the permanent manager role in summer.
Credit- Graham (Flickr)
Neil Lennon
The former Northern Ireland international ended his managerial career at Celtic earlier this year after a string of bad results and a controversy over a training trip to Dubai during the pandemic.
This does not erase his previous success at the helm in Glasgow, where he helped Celtic achieve a treble of domestic trebles. Lennon is a trophy winning manager, and for a team on their way down to the Championship, this may be just what they need.
Lennon is ready and willing for a quick return to club management, as he told BBC Radio 5 Live recently, and would be an interesting choice for manager.
Frank Lampard
Lampard has only been in managerial roles since 2018, but has been successful during his time at Derby and Chelsea- proving he is a good choice for both the top flight and the Championship.
His time at Derby saw them just miss out on promotion to the Premier League, and while at Chelsea he guided them to fourth in the league and an FA Cup final.
Lampard may be an outside bet for some, yet he has 4/1 odds according to BetFair. Lampard’s status might help to attract new talent to the beleagured United squad, but there are questions around his willingness to move from Champions League football back to the Championship.
