Chris Wilder wants to see Sheffield United do thing that’s ‘massive’ at Leeds United | OneFootball

Chris Wilder has urged Sheffield United to do something Leeds United do and it could be 'massive' for the Blades in the future...

Sheffield United's 2025/26 season is set to end in mid-table following missing out on automatic promotion to Leeds United and Burnley last season.

Things have improved for Sheffield United since Chris Wilder's return to Bramall Lane, but it's set to be a campaign which is far below the points return of last year, with Gus Hamer and co. collecting 90+ last term.

They were deducted two, but Burnley finished second with 100 and Leeds United won the title on goal difference over the Clarets. The Blades then lost the play-off final to Sunderland at Wembley, with the club having to rebuild in their second year of parachute payments.

Those end next season, meaning Sheffield United face a pivotal summer heading into 2026/27. The club can no longer rely on Premier League-level spending. A smarter, sustainable rebuild is now essential for the Blades — focused on recruitment, youth development, and wage control.

Chris Wilder gives Leeds United example for Sheffield United in the long-term

Without reset and direction, they risk stagnation or decline. But with the right structure, they can re-establish themselves as serious promotion contenders. Wilder remaining could be crucial, though, having won 15 and drawn five of the last 34 league games since his return.

Wilder has big plans for the club going forward, involving taking inspiration from Leeds. He never saw David McGoldrick as an unofficial player-coach when the veteran Barnsley forward was at Sheffield United, but now wants to follow Leeds' example in keeping ex-players involved.

Per the Yorkshire Post, Wilder said: "I saw him at George Baldock's Foundation event before Christmas and it was just brilliant to catch up with him. He just makes me smile. I've said to Pat (Bamford) and Danny (Ings), Didzy came to the club off the back of a 'trial'.

"It was never a trial, it was a confirmation because we know how talented he was. He came because he was doing a lot of travelling at Ipswich and, thankfully, Mick McCarthy pushed him our way. He's one of the best I've ever coached and managed on every front.

"On the pitch, he was outstanding. Off the pitch, he was brilliant to work with. And, at the time, I didn't see that (coaching) side to him but he was a really intelligent footballer. The biggest thing I would say is he was hugely respected by coaches and players.

"I'm not surprised Conor [Hourihane] has involved him with the younger players because he'll have the respect of Conor and the coaching staff and most importantly of the players because of his personality."

Wilder hopes when he is gone some of the players he led, like McGoldrick, maintain bonds to his era. He said: "I want that link. When you go to Leeds United and see all those ex-players there, when I see Bradders (Carl Bradshaw), Mitch Ward, Peter Duffield and TC (Tony Currie) at Bramall Lane, I think it's massive.

"Whether it's the corporate hospitality side with Ted Hemsley and Badge (Len Badger) or whatever, I'm majoring on that. In my opinion, there should be a connection with the older boys that have played here.

"If you look at our academy coaches, we've had three guys who've come here – Dukey (goalkeeping coach Matt Duke) played here as a kid, Micky Collins and Gary McSheffrey have been in our academy – and are with the first team now. There needs to be a pathway.

"Is this a culture club? One hundred percent. When the time's up (for me), do the club look to promote from within on a lot of fronts? Maybe this seat might be occupied by someone who's been through our academy, knows what the football club's about, and has been through the first-team."

Sheffield United's values heading into 2026/27

In English football, identity isn’t a luxury but something which can ensure survival and grow a club. Clubs that know exactly what they are, and how they want to play, tend to outperform their resources. It could be a high-intensity press, direct football, or youth development — but a clear culture aligns recruitment, coaching, and fan expectation into one coherent plan.

It becomes even more vital for clubs operating without financial muscle. Take Luton Town's rise in recent years, where they were built on structure and belief, as well as smart recruitment without the financial might of other bigger sides. Other clubs will consistently lean on physicality and organisation to stay competitive.

Without identity, these clubs drift. But it is also culture, as Wilder states. Some are able to cultivate that side of things in a long-lasting way from one set of players to the next. That has been something which has mattered so much to Wilder at Sheffield United.

Wilder’s best Blades side had a defined style — overlapping centre-backs, aggression, organiational clarity. But it also had the right leaders and characters in the dressing room. Strip that away, and you strip away their edge. With financial tightening looming, rediscovering that cultural backbone isn’t optional but is essential as they head into 2026/27.