What Chris Wilder said after rejoining Sheffield United in 2023 is telling amid talks to replace Ruben Selles

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Less than four months after his shock Sheffield United sacking, Chris Wilder is being linked with a move back to Bramall Lane.

The Bramall Lane hierarchy parted ways with Wilder in June following Sheffield United’s loss to Sunderland in the Championship play-off final.

At the time, Sheffield United fans slammed Wilder’s sacking given that the Blades were one half of football away from yet another promotion under his stewardship.

Sheffield United appointed Ruben Selles as Wilder’s replacement, but the Spaniard has endured a disastrous start to his stint as Blades boss with six defeats from his first six in charge.

After the latest horror show in Sheffield United’s 5-0 defeat to Ipswich Town on Friday evening, Sheffield United have approached Wilder to replace Selles, and the Englishman’s comments after rejoining the Blades in 2023 feel particularly prudent.

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What Chris Wilder said in 2023 after rejoining Sheffield United

Wilder’s first spell in charge of his boyhood club Sheffield United came between May 2016 and March 2021, and in his maiden campaign he masterminded the Blades’ League One title win.

In the 2018/19 Championship season, Wilder led the Blades back to the Premier League to secure his second promotion in three years at Bramall Lane.

After leading Sheffield United to ninth in their first season back in the top flight in 2019/20, Wilder left the club by mutual consent in March 2021 with the Blades bottom of the Premier League.

In December 2023, rock-bottom Sheffield United reappointed Wilder to replace Paul Heckingbottom, and his comments after rejoining his boyhood club then speak volumes now.

As quoted by Sky Sports, Wilder said in 2023: “It was an opportunity I just couldn’t turn down. Just like in 2016, when this club comes calling, it is not something you pass up.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
24	Sheffield UtdSheffield Utd	5	0	0	5	1	12	-11	0

“This is Sheffield United, it is my team and I am thrilled to be back. We find ourselves in a difficult position, I understand that, but I think I can make a difference.

“When I received the call, I didn’t have to think about it. People know what this club means to me, and the task now is to try and provide a boost to improve our current situation.”

EFL Analysis exclusively revealed that Sheffield United would financially benefit from Wilder’s return.

But finances aside, he could be the perfect man to salvage the biggest matter at Sheffield United, their 2025/26 season.

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Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United record compared to Ruben Selles’

Although there is an evidently small sample size, Wilder’s record as Sheffield United boss totally outshines Selles’.

With morale at an all-time low after a nightmare start for the Blades, Wilder could be precisely the perfect candidate to salvage Sheffield United from Selles.

His reappointment after just three months would be an embarrassing admission of defeat from the Bramall Lane hierarchy about their ‘mad’ decision to sack Wilder and replace him with Selles.

However, if there are to be changes for the better with the struggling Blades, COH Sports could be forced to take their medicine.