Sheffield United officially hire former Manchester United star as new coach
Image Credits: Imago Images
Sheffield United’s season turned before it had properly started as the club parted with Chris Wilder over the summer, handed Ruben Selles a three-year deal.
Unfortunately, The Blades suffered loses in his opening five games, making it the worst start in the club’s history.
Selles was sacked by mid-September and Wilder was back 24 hours later on a two-year deal, into a third stint, and steadied a listing campaign into a 13th-placed finish.
The focus now shifts to 2026/27 and another crack at the Championship. Owners COH Sports want fresh ideas driving the next push, including recruitment over the summer, and changes behind the scenes.
Wilder has talked about injecting new energy into his group, and the first move has now landed, bringing a familiar name to United fans.
Taking to the club’s official website, Sheffield United have announced the appointment of Phil Jones, the former Manchester United defender.
Phil Jones joins Sheffield United coaching staff
Jones has now officially joined Wilder’s coaching staff at Bramall Lane, arriving in a backroom reshuffle that sees assistant manager Alan Knill and coach Guilherme Ramos leave, with Micky Collins promoted to assistant manager.
Confirming the changes, Wilder said: “Phil (Jones) is a young coach who has played under some of the very best and is now forging his own pathway in coaching.”
He continued: “He’s coming in tasked with helping throughout the team and he’s already gained some great experience coaching in the academy at Manchester United and with the first team at Blackburn last season. He is highly thought of at both clubs.”
Phil Jones needs little introduction at Old Trafford as he arrived from Blackburn in 2011 as a teenager, a versatile, athletic defender Sir Alex Ferguson once tipped to become one of United’s best ever.
He won the Premier League in 2012/13, later adding the FA Cup, League Cup and Europa League, and earned 27 England caps before injuries blunted his prime.
Jones left United in 2023, retired, and moved into coaching, via United’s academy, then Blackburn, and now into the Championship grind with Wilder.
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