Ruben Selles told how he will be remembered at Sheffield United - "it's harsh" but "I would have to agree" | OneFootball

FLW's Blades fan pundit isn't looking back on Ruben Selles' brief tenure at Bramall Lane very fondly

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Ruben Selles' tenure as Sheffield United manager was a downright disaster.

The former Hull City boss came in with big shoes to fill, after Chris Wilder was, in many eyes, unfairly removed from his post after a play-off final defeat following a season where, on the pitch, the Blades accumulated 92 points.

Selles didn't even partially fill them, though, losing all of his six games in charge in all competitions, with his final bow coming by way of a 5-0 thrashing against Ipswich Town at Portman Road.

The Blades board have performed a U-turn and brought their beloved former boss back in, and looking back, many are starting to regard Selles' 88-day reign amongst the worst in Sheffield United history.

Jimmy, the host of the Blades Ramble, and FLW's Sheffield United fan pundit, feels that, whilst it can be harsh given the short length of his spell, he can help but agree with the idea that Selles is, indeed, the worst manager in his club's history.

Sheffield United fan pundit assesses Ruben Selles' reign as Blades boss

Jimmy showed sympathy for Ruben Selles, as six games isn't a long time to put across ideas and strategy, but after a full pre-season as well, it was clear that expectations weren't being met.

"I think it's harsh on Ruben Selles in a lot of ways because he didn't get a lot of time, but watching the games under him, there was no hope in them at all," he told Football League World.

"Aside from little flashes, there didn't appear to be any way that we were going to improve under Selles, which is why he got so little time.

"Officially, he is the worst Sheffield United manager of all time with the worst record we've ever had, and for the standard of players he had at his disposal, I would have to agree."

The Blades did end up losing some key players. The loanees who provided a boost in the second half of last season all departed, as did the likes of Vini Souza, Anel Ahmedhodzic and Kieffer Moore.

However, the calibre of players still at Bramall Lane is better than their record suggests, and it is clear that Selles should have gotten more out of them.

"David Weir gets tarnished with the worst manager ever at Sheffield United, given the football we were playing in League One, but I think Selles just pips him to the worst manager ever to manage Sheffield United," Jimmy concluded.

Ruben Selles massively disappointed at Sheffield United, but he can bounce back

To be branded as a worse Blades manager than David Weir, who masterminded just one win in 13 games whilst the team were in League One, takes some doing. That four-month spell was the first and only time the former Scotland manager took charge of a domestic club, but you get the feeling that Selles can and will bounce back from this.

The Spaniard was trusted with the keys at Southampton back in 2023, which didn't work out, but then he dropped to League One and performed admirably at Reading, before steering Hull City to safety last season in the Championship.

At a club with little expectation to compete and in a smaller market, Selles can excel. Whoever ended up taking over from Chris Wilder this summer underwent a baptism of fire, and Selles burned quickly.

Ruben Selles' stock as a manager is the lowest it's been right now, but whoever takes a chance on him next could be the club where his managerial career gets back on track.