Sheffield United stalwart receives big Sheffield Wednesday praise - "he didn't waste his opportunities" | OneFootball

FLW's Sheffield Wednesday fan pundit wishes they had ex-Blades defender Phil Jagielka in their ranks

Despite being bitter rivals in the Steel City, putting that to one side and even as a Sheffield Wednesday fan, you can appreciate the brilliance of ex-Blades defender Phil Jagielka.

The Steel City Derby has had its fair share of fiesty encounters over the years, and whether you're in the blue corner or the red corner, it is a fixture that has hosted many historic names over the years.

One of them being the former Sheffield United central defender Phil Jagielka, who went on to have an outstanding career, not only for kicking it off with the Blades, but for being a club legend in Merseyside too, as he spent 12 years at Everton.

As well as at club level, the now 43-year-old made his mark on the international stage for England as he received 40 caps for his services.

So, despite there being an ever-present divide in fandom in Sheffield, there are few players that went on to have the lengthy career that Jagielka did have, and that can be appreciated by all, regardless of your chosen colours.

Phil Jagielka's reliability set him apart from other rival players from a Sheffield Wednesday perspective

When asked who was one Blades player that Football League World's Sheffield Wednesday fan pundit, Patrick, would have wanted in their side, he was set on Jagielka being that man due to being an ever-present figure in the defence that every side needs.

Patrick believes that over the years, Wednesday have never had a defensive player to the level of Jagielka who gives off a confidence boost throughout the whole team. As highlighted more so during his time with the Toffees, it's clear to see the effect he had on the dressing room as shown by his role of captaincy.

Patrick said: "In regards to a Sheffield United player who I wish played for Wednesday, I had a think about this one and a player who does standout is Phil Jagielka.

"He might not have been the most flashy of players, but he was a very solid player, and you look at his career, he made something like over 800 appearances, and he retired at 41, and he seemed to be the sort of player that would be ever-present throughout the season, and you can't really underestimate how important that is if you do have someone at the back who is always there and become a mainstay in your defence, and that just adds a real assuredness, and it helps with the confidence of the team.

"I've seen through the years some questionable defending from Sheffield Wednesday and I guess if we had someone like Jagielka in our defence, he definitely would have made a difference, so I have an admiration for Jagielka."

Rivalries aside, Phil Jagielka was a true professional respected by Sheffield Wednesday supporters

The Sale-born England international kick-started his career in the Red and White of Sheffield United, and made just over 300 appearances for the Blades over two spells as he returned to the Steel City in the 2019/20 season. 12 seasons with Everton followed his first spell with United, where he arrived as a boy and left a hero.

Very few players can say that they made 300 appearances for two clubs throughout their career, but Jagielka certainly falls into that category where he was loved wherever he went. Even in the latter stages of his career at Derby and Stoke, he quickly became not only a fan-favourite but also a figurehead in both defences due to his reliable nature at the spine of the team.

FLW's Sheffield Wednesday fan pundit, Patrick, was quick to share his praise of Jagielka's more than impressive tenure at the top level of English football. He said: "He was a professional and never got involved in any slagging off or winding up of Wednesday fans, so it's just the fact that he pulled on a United shirt that made him a rival throughout his playing days there.

"I suppose another thing I remember about Jagielka is he also scored a few crackers in his career. I seem to remember a goal he scored against Leeds back in the early noughties from about 30 yards out, which also stands out in my mind.

"If we're going to pick a player, as I said, it doesn't have to be the flashy attacking player, it's Mr. Consistency at the back, and as I said, to be playing football until you're 41 shows that he was professional, he did take care of himself, and he didn't waste the opportunities he was given."