On 17 April 2021, Sheffield United’s relegation from the Premier League was confirmed with six games to spare. The Blades had an utterly disastrous campaign, with their final points tally of 23 significantly boosted by winning three of their last six matches. Under-23s boss Paul Heckingbottom was placed in caretaker charge to oversee the final 10 league games, and two years on he has them in an FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City at Wembley and on the cusp of a return to the top flight.
Looking for an immediate return to the Premier League, Sheffield United turned to Slavisa Jokanovic in the summer of 2021. However, after a low-spending summer, cracks quickly appeared and with the team in 16th it was not a surprise when he was sacked on 25 November. Unexpectedly, Heckingbottom was immediately installed as his long-term replacement. He got off to a fast start, with three wins from his first four games in permanent charge, including a 1-0 success at eventual title-winners Fulham. A nine-game unbeaten run through January and February helped propel them into play-off contention and a 4-0 thumping of the champions on the final day secured a fifth-placed finish.
The success of the Blades’ system of playing a back three has been underpinned by Bosnia international Anel Ahmedhodzic, who was the only player they paid a fee for in the off-season. He has fitted seamlessly into the novel style and scored five goals in all competitions, as well as carrying a threat with runs forward and crosses into the box. Another key player has been Senegal international Iliman Ndiaye, who made his debut off the bench for the final 11 minutes of Heckingbottom’s first match in caretaker charge back in March 2021. He has since represented Senegal at the 2022 Qatar World Cup and is one of the hottest properties in the EFL, with 13 goals and eight assists this season.
The off-field issues at Sheffield United have rumbled on for a number of years now, with the club handed a transfer embargo in January for failing to keep up with repayments to another club. The embargo was lifted on Thursday, which should allow them freedom to add to their squad at the end of the season. They had to lean on the loan market last summer, with Manchester City midfield duo Tommy Doyle and James McAtee both having big impacts at key points this campaign.
Heckingbottom has created a siege mentality around the team which has allowed them to ride out two separate poor runs of form. After their strong start they failed to win any of their subsequent six games, but 10 wins from their following 12 league encounters meant they ended January behind only runaway leaders Burnley – and with a double-digit lead over the chasing pack. Four wins in five matches since returning from the international break means the Blades will need a maximum of three points from their final four games after their City test on Saturday.