Sheffield United have confirmed the appointment of Ruben Selles as their new manager following Chris Wilder’s departure, which he described with “great regret”.
Selles has agreed to a three-year contract with the Championship side and was quick to take up the reins late on Wednesday evening.
Speaking to the Blades’ official website, the 42 year old former Southampton, Reading and Hull manager said: “When we first heard about the possibility of coming here, it was a no brainer for us to join a club with this kind of history and with a mission to move forward and try to be even more competitive.”
He expressed his enthusiasm for the club’s vision: “This is a very powerful and ambitious project. It was very important at the start of the conversations that everyone is on the same page.”
Selles emphasised the importance of innovation while maintaining the core aspects of the game: “We need to embrace data and new technologies, but the most important thing is not to forget the football essence.”
The new boss outlined his strategy for success: “I think we are capable of delivering a good model and optimise our performance by using all the tools that we have.”
He also made clear his tactical approach: “Our identity is always very clear. We want to be aggressive, we want to make things happen.”
Selles promised a dynamic style of play: “So, the fans can expect a team which is not going to wait or be reactive, we will be proactive, we are going to go and try and be as competitive as we can in every single game. If we can do that then we’ll give ourselves a very good chance of winning games.”
Wilder’s exit had been anticipated after the club conducted an end-of-season review, which scrutinised their unsuccessful bid for promotion to the Premier League. Despite racking up 92 points, United only managed a third-place finish behind Leeds and Burnley, and frustration peaked when they were defeated 2-1 by Sunderland in the play-off final at Wembley despite taking an early lead.
The departure of Wilder from the club was described as a “mutually agreed decision”.
The former manager expressed his sentiments in a statement released via the club’s media outlets: “I am obviously disappointed to leave Bramall Lane,” he pronounced. “It is with great regret that my time at Sheffield United has come to an end.”
“I’d like to thank Stephen Bettis (chief executive) and Prince Abdullah (former owner) for bringing me back to the club and giving me the opportunity to rebuild the team and take this great club forward. To the fans, I’m obviously disappointed to be leaving, particularly because we were so close to getting back to the Premier League.
“I’m a Sheffielder through and through, I love this club and this city and that feeling will never change. I depart with some cherished memories and feel proud to be talked about in the same manner that special Sheffield United managers are remembered – leading this team over 300 times will remain an incredible part of my life. This is a heartfelt thank you for all your support.”
Following a takeover of the club in December by the American-based consortium COH Sports, Wilder had been awarded a new contract set to last until the conclusion of the 2027-28 season just this past January.