Three points on a Saturday is what keeps a manager in their job. Once the game is over, it’s on to the next one. There’s no time to dwell and very little time to reflect, simply another three points to collect.
Fortunately for those leading from the dugout they’ve got each other, as Sheffield United’s Chris Wilder explained to UCFB.
“That’s the good thing about the industry,” he said. “It’s so cut throat, everybody is after the same result on a Saturday afternoon and wants and needs to be successful, but you do have this understanding between each other of how difficult the job is, and there is so much good will amongst people as well.”
Sir Alex Ferguson was famed for offering advice to up-and-coming managers during his time at Manchester United, and Wilder was no different. He also counts the likes of former Everton manager Sam Allardyce and current West Ham boss David Moyes as mentors.
This season, he’s been in contact with Burnley’s Sean Dyce for advice on how to deal with the Premier League and stay there – something Wilder and his Sheffield United team were doing with relative ease before the season came to a sudden halt in March.
“Sean is one that I lean on heavily,” Wilder explains. “I asked what were his experiences were like and how can they help. You look and you’re thinking, ‘well, if Sheffield United go down then that’s one less team for him to worry about’, but Sean was open and upfront and I think that just shows the good people that are in the game and how they will help you out.”
As the current LMA Manager of the Year, and having gained promotion from every major league in England during his relatively short managerial career, Wilder would be well placed to offer his own advice to up-and-coming coaches. It’s hard to believe though that his phone hasn’t been ringing non-stop since August as he and his Blades’ side march towards Europe.
Chris Wilder was talking to Mark Clemmit as part of the UCFB Insight Series.
