Sheffield Wednesday

Sheffield Wednesday is the second-oldest professional football club in England. It was formed in 1867 as a branch of The Wednesday Cricket Club which was originally formed in 1820. A founding member of the Premier League, the club has been in the English Football League since 2000. This The Real EFL page will showcase The Owls' long, successful and storied history.

Sheffield Wednesday Updates

The club has recently been on an upturn under German manager Danny Rohl, after previous manager Darren Moore brought the club into the Championship through the League One Play-offs in 2023. After a record-worst start to a season, Rohl was appointed after the sacking of Xisco Munoz and a strong finish kept them in the second tier ending up in 20th place. This season sees The Owls try and build upon that result and make themselves a regular fixture in the league. Off-field issues with owner Dejphon Chansiri slowly continue to bubble away and at times have caused flashpoints with the fanbase, but it does not detract from the club's performances on the pitch.

Sheffield Wednesday Transfer News & Rumours

Sheffield Wednesday Owner Dejphon Chansiri has been sanctioned multiple times by the EFL and most recently the club has been placed under a transfer embargo until the Thai businessman pays outstanding bills to His Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC). If they are not paid, the embargo is likely be extended to three transfer windows. This has scuppered previous transfer plans that the club had over the next twelve months.

With those issues, Wednesday has sought to secure its existing players to new contracts. Manager Danny Rohl was signed to a new three-year contract over the summer. Other players, such as the long-serving Barry Bannan were given extensions to their deals and recently the club have made moves to secure 19-year-old Sean Fusire.

Sheffield Wednesday Signings

Despite previous transfer embargoes on the club, Wednesday were allowed to invest over the summer and brought 11 players into the club, many of which were on free transfers. A few are also on loan, coming from Premier League teams as is common with the Championship.

Player	Age	Nationality	Left	Fee	Contract Duration
Ike Ugbo	25	Canadian	Troyes Ligue 2	Undisclosed	Unknown
Olaf Kobacki	22	Polish	Arka Gdynia Polish 1. Liga	Undisclosed	4 years
Yan Valery	25	Tunisian	Angers SCO Ligue 1	Undisclosed	Unknown
Max Lowe	27	English	Sheffield United Championship	Free Transfer	Unknown
Jamal Lowe	29	Jamaican English	Bournemouth Premier League	Free Transfer	Unknown
Nathaniel Chalobah	29	English	West Bromwich Albion Championship	Free Transfer	Unknown
Svante Ingelsson	26	Swedish	Hansa Rostock 3. Bundesliga	Free Transfer	Unknown
Ben Hamer	36	English	Watford Championship	Free Transfer	Unknown
Charlie McNeil	20	English	Manchester United Premier League	Free Transfer	Unknown
Shea Charles	20	Northern Irish	Southampton Premier League	Loan Deal	End of season
James Beadle	19	English	Brighton and Hove Albion Premier League	Loan Deal	End of season

Sheffield Wednesday Key Matches Of The Season

Sheffield Wednesday's aim is to improve on their 20th place finish and they have already double the number of points they had by the November international break last season. Here are 10 of the club's key fixtures across the season alongside important dates which the club should aim to succeed in to achieve a midtable finish.

You can see Sheffield Wednesday and every other EFL club's fixtures on The Real EFL's handy guide.

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Sheffield Wednesday Key Achievements

Sheffield Wednesday are one of the most successful clubs in England, ranking 13th in number of domestic trophies won. They have won four First Division titles, with them coming in pairs with back-to-back titles in 1902/03 and 1903/04 as well as 1928/29 and 1929/30. They have won the second division four further times. Wednesday also have three FA Cup trophies, coming in 1895/96, 1906/07 and 1934/35. They won the EFL Cup once in 1990/91, beating Manchester United in the final which makes them the last non-top-flight club to lift a major English trophy.

Sheffield Wednesday Current Squad

The Owls have a large squad spanning 11 different nationalities and have plenty of experienced and youthful players at their disposal.

Sheffield Wednesday Attackers

Wednesday have eight attackers in their mix but Danny Rohl tends to use only one striker, meaning many play out wide. Ike Ugbo is his first-choice striker and was the joint top scorer for the club in the league last season despite joining on loan in January. Michael Smith is usually his substitute option up front but is still effective with his contributions. Players like Jamal Lowe, Callum Paterson and Olaf Kobacki play on the wings.

Sheffield Wednesday Midfielders

Sheffield Wednesday use three midfielders in their system and have a unit of five at their disposal. Captain Barry Bannan is a staple of the team having been at the club since 2015. Summer signings Nathaniel Chalobah and Shea Charles are also regulars in the side, whilst Svante Ingelsson and Josh Windass offer versatility further up the pitch and also out wide.

Sheffield Wednesday Defenders

Sheffield Wednesday have plenty of defenders in their squad with 10 in the first team. Yan Valery was another summer signing and brings some Premier League experience thanks to his time at Southampton. Di'Shon Bernard and Dominic Iorfa are Danny Rohl's usual choices at centre-back, with Michael Ihiekwe a long-term absentee. Max Lowe, who previously played for Steel City rivals Sheffield United is the first-choice left-back.

Sheffield Wednesday Goalkeepers

The Owls have a strong mix of youthfulness and experience in their goalkeeping department. Brighton and Hove Albion loanee James Beadle is their standout option, now in his second season at Hillsborough. Ben Hamer was brought in over the summer as a back-up choice, and at 36 years old is the elder statesman of the squad. Pierce Charles is another choice and has recently made his senior debut for the Northern Irish national side.

Sheffield Wednesday Managing and Coaching Staff

Danny Rohl

Rohl took charge of Wednesday in October 2023 when the club was at the foot of the Championship. Under his guidance, he masterminded the club's own 'Great Escape' to survive and is now seeking to push them even further up the table. Before arriving in South Yorkshire, the German was an assistant coach for his national team under Hansi Flick. He was 34 years old when appointed by Wednesday, making him the youngest manager in the EFL and is a year younger than club captain Barry Bannan.

Chris Powell

Former Charlton Athletic and Southend United defender Chris Powell is the assistant head coach at Sheffield Wednesday. He has coached with England and was part of the interim coaching team at Tottenham Hotspur with ex-Hull City man Ryan Mason. He was appointed shortly after Danny Rohl's arrival in Sheffield.

Sheffield Wednesday Former Managers and Key Coaches

• Arthur Dickinson was in charge for the club's golden years, leading them to two league titles and two FA Cups at the turn of the 20th century.
• Trevor Francis led them to finish third place in the inaugural season of the Premier League and led them to both English cup finals the following season, losing both.
• Tony Pulis was appointed as a replacement for now Cambridge United boss Garry Monk, but he only lasted 10 games before his exit.
• He was eventually replaced by Darren Moore, who brought the club into the Championship through the play-offs, including a stunning comeback against Peterborough United at Hillsborough. He would leave with his coaching staff during the summer.
• Former Watford boss Xisco Munoz took charge of their first season back in the second tier but an abysmal start led to his dismissal.
• Danny Rohl was appointed manager soon after and rescued the club from relegation last season

Sheffield Wednesday Legends

A club as old as Sheffield Wednesday has plenty of legends, with some coming before it even became a football side.

David Hirst

Hirst was a prominent figure and a favourite among Wednesday supporters. He spent 11 years with the club and scored149 goals in 358 appearances.

Derek Dooley

Derek Dooley was dubbed 'Mr Sheffield' due to his contributions to both Wednesday and United. He played and managed The Owls before he led The Blades to the Premiership as chairman after the club was £4 million in debt.

Don Megson

He played for Wednesday for a decade and captained the side in the 1966 FA Cup final.

Roland Nilsson

Swedish defender Roland Nilsson played over 150 times in the league at Hillsborough and won the League Cup with the club in 1991.

Mel Sterland

Local lad Mel Sterland started his career at Wednesday and was a set-piece specialist, scoring nearly 50 goals as a right-back.

Chris Waddle

Waddle was their stand-out player during that time period, and was named FWA Footballer of the Year for that season. He played 109 times for the club before leaving for Bradford City.

John Sheridan

He was another member of that Owls team that finished third in the Premier League and won the EFL Cup, scoring the winner against Manchester United at Wembley.

Sheffield Wednesday Team Metrics and Performance

Sheffield Wednesday had a major uptick in form at the end of the season, thanks in part to Danny Rohl and striker Ike Ugbo, securing their safety in the Championship on the final day of the season with a win over Sunderland.

Over 46 games they secured 53 points and finished 20th place, three points above 22nd-placed Birmingham City who went down to League One. They scored 44 goals and conceded 68 times.

As of the November international break of 2024, Wednesday have 18 points to their name, with five wins, three draws and 7 losses.

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Sheffield Wednesday Pitch and Amenities

Sheffield Wednesday play at their historic home at Hillsborough. They have called the ground home since 1899 having previously played at multiple venues across the city, including at Bramall Lane before their bitter rivals Sheffield United were formed. With a capacity of 39,732, it is one of the largest football stadiums in England. The clock above the South Stand is over 120 years old. It was previously called the Owlerton Stadium, named after the area the stadium is located and led to the club's nickname of The Owls to be adopted.

Sheffield Wednesday Fanbase

Sheffield Wednesday have a large fanbase and have frequently entertained crowds of over 20,000 at Hillsborough. In the 2005 play-off final, The Owls took 39,000 fans to Cardiff. Some famous faces who support Sheffield Wednesday include all four members of the rock band the Arctic Monkeys, including singer Alex Turner. Fellow Sheffield musician Jarvis Cocker and footballer Gary Cahill also support the club.

Sheffield Wednesday Rivalries and Notable Matches

Sheffield Wednesday's biggest rivals are their city counterparts Sheffield United. The pair compete in the Steel City Derby, named after the industry which made Sheffield famous. The derby had been on and off over recent seasons due to the gap between the sides but with the relegation of The Blades, the pair have renewed acquaintances in the Championship. United won the first clash at Bramall Lane 1-0 in November. Other rivals for Wednesday come in the forms of other Yorkshire sides such as Leeds United, Barnsley and Rotherham United.

Sheffield Wednesday Facts

Sheffield Wednesday History

Sheffield Wednesday were formed in 1867 but their history stems all the way back to 1820 when the Wednesday Cricket Club was formed. After a meeting in the club, members voted to establish a football team to give the side income during the winter months when Cricket took a break. Soon enough the football side became the biggest draw of the side and split from the Cricket Club.

Wednesday played across Sheffield at multiple grounds, including at Bramall Lane, now the home of Sheffield United. They found a home in Owlerton, which would eventually become Hillsborough Stadium. The club enjoyed plenty of success in the first half of the 20th century, including four First Division titles and two FA Cup wins.

After World War Two, The Owls began to slide and despite a brief resurgence in the 1960's the club slid into the second and third tiers of football. They managed to get themselves back into the top flight just in time for the Premier League's first season in 1992 and stuck around in the division until 2000. Since then they have bounced between the Championship and League One, but success under Darren Moore and Danny Rohl have kept them in the second tier.

Sheffield Wednesday Social Media

Fans can keep up with the latest developments at Sheffield Wednesday through the club's social media and website. Their official website is frequently updated with news from the club and fans can access exclusive clips and interviews. Social media allows supporters to access and interact with the club and fellow fans.

Website: https://www.swfc.co.uk/

X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/swfc

Sheffield Wednesday Outlook and Forecast

Sheffield Wednesday are seeking to keep themselves in the Championship this season and improve upon their 20th place finish last season. So far they are achieving that goal but with how tight the table is at the early stages of that season, the club could still be dragged into a relegation battle. A transfer embargo does put them at a disadvantage compared to their rivals.

Frequently Asked Questions About Sheffield Wednesday Football Club

How much would it cost to buy Sheffield Wednesday Football Club?

Current owner Dejphon Chansiri bought Sheffield Wednesday back in 2015 alongside a consortium for £37.5 million. With Chansiri previously stating he would not invest any further money back into the club last year, the club would be available, likely for a much higher price than it was bought for.

Has Sheffield Wednesday ever won anything?

Sheffield Wednesday are a successful club, boasting four First Division titles, two FA Cups and a League Cup. Other trophies include four Second Division titles and an FA Community Shield. They rank 13th in the all time list for the most successful English clubs

What is the oldest football club in Sheffield?

Sheffield Wednesday is the second oldest professional football club in England behind Notts County. Whilst in a professional capacity, Wednesday is the oldest club in Sheffield, officially they are not. Sheffield F.C. were founded in 1857, 10 years before Wednesday. They are recognised as the world's oldest football club that still exists.

What is Sheffield Wednesday’s biggest win?

Sheffield Wednesday's biggest ever win was a 12-0 win over Halliwell in the first round of the FA Cup in 1891. For league competitions, The Owls' biggest win came in a 9-1 win over Birmingham City in 1930.

Is Sheffield Wednesday a big club?

Sheffield Wednesday are a storied and historic club, with one of the biggest club grounds in England and rank 13th in the all time domestic honours list. In Yorkshire, only Leeds United have won more trophies than Sheffield Wednesday. Local rivals Sheffield United have won five trophies, three less than Wednesday.

Where to watch Sheffield Wednesday?

Fans can watch Sheffield Wednesday through buying tickets on the club's website, where supporters can also access tickets for away games. If fans can't attend games, they can view the club's league games on Sky Sports, with the broadcaster showing a minimum of 20 league games for every EFL club this season on its Sky Sports+ platform.