Following rumours in recent weeks, it was confirmed that Chris Wilder had left the role of manager at Sheffield United on Wednesday evening – which did probe some questions considering United only missed out on promotion to the Premier League via the play offs last season.
However, now it has been announced that Ruben Selles will take over the helm at United. Here is an insight into what their fans can expect from the Spaniard.
Who is Ruben Selles?
Ruben Selles is known to EFL and Premier League fans for his time spent coaching across
the differing leagues of English football. A prime example of this falls in his time at Southampton in the Premier League – where he was able to stamp his authority on the English footballing scene.
Selles came to England with a very diverse profile following experiences coaching in countries like Greece, Denmark and Spain to name just a few. He can be seen to be a very tactical manager, with the ability to very quickly change shape to exploit the opposition. You can see a more in depth analysis of his tactics below.
Selles’ Time at Hull
The manager does already have experience in the EFL Championship following his most recent tenure with Hull City. During his time with the side, he was able to take Hull from rock-bottom during the season to securing their place in the 2025/26 Championship. However, he was dismissed of his duties after just six months at the club.
This dismissal came to the disappointment and dismay of some Tigers fans who believe that Selles wasn’t given enough of a chance to show the club what he could do to positively impact the team.
His Time at Reading
However, of course, he will mainly be known to EFL Championship fans due to his time with
Reading. He was adored by the fans for his commitment to the club, despite outside financial
troubles and rumours which continued following Selles’ exit and ultimately accumulated in the sale of Reading following pressure from fans and the EFL.
He spent 18 months with the ‘Ding and is considered by many Reading fans to be the man who bring belief back to the club. However, the management of the team was handed to Noel Hunt and his team which concluded Selles’ spell with the Royals.
Looking Ahead
As mentioned earlier, Sheffield United did have a good season, reaching 90 points, but missed
out on promotion in the play-offs through a Thomas Cannon 90+5’ winner at Wembley which consequently sent Sunderland back to the top flight of English football.
Looking ahead to another season in the EFL Championship, the Blades will be looking for nothing but promotion. However, as always this is not as easy as it sounds, as the English second tier gets stronger and stronger each year.
In terms of transfers, Sheffield United have been on the quiet side of the transfer market, signing just one player to date, Ehije Ukaki. There has been little time for Selles to target new players given Selles’ appointment just three days ago – on the 18th of June.
This, combined with the uncertainty around the management of the Bramwell Lane outfit next season, may act as the reason why United haven’t done more during the transfer window so far.
However, Blades fans should be excited for what’s to come in the coming weeks as Ruben Selles does play some very entertaining football. With this being considered, we’re sure there will be a story we cover throughout his tenure as he aims to take Sheffield United back to the Premier League.
