{"id":539046,"date":"2019-12-29T17:14:52","date_gmt":"2019-12-29T22:14:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonfootball.com\/?p=539046"},"modified":"2019-12-29T17:19:10","modified_gmt":"2019-12-29T22:19:10","slug":"chris-wilder-eddie-howe-efl-manager-decade","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2019\/12\/29\/chris-wilder-eddie-howe-efl-manager-decade\/","title":{"rendered":"Chris Wilder to Eddie Howe to Micky Mellon: EFL Manager of the Decade"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The last ten years have seen historic records set, unprecedented winless runs and plenty of drama. It is a cliche to say that supporters are the ones who stay with clubs through the highs and lows, but here are the managers who you have voted to be the best managerial representatives from the EFL.<\/p>\n<h2>Chris Wilder to Eddie Howe: Your EFL Manager of the Decade<\/h2>\n<p>The years 2010 to 2019 have seen clubs such as <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonfootball.com\/clubs\/huddersfield-town\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Huddersfield Town<\/a> win promotion for the first time ever to the Premier League; Salford City make their debut appearance in the Football League system while Bournemouth avoided collapse to make it into the top-flight.<\/p>\n<p>But who have you, the LWOF readers, voted as your EFL Manager of the decade? Read below to find out.<\/p>\n<h3>Those Who Just Missed Out<\/h3>\n<p>Across the ten year time period, it was difficult to name just three managers who have been the most successful.<\/p>\n<p>LWOF readers submitted plenty of worthy candidates; however, we are limited to just three.<\/p>\n<p>Micky Mellon has gone down a folk hero at Tranmere Rovers as a result of guiding the Birkenhead-based back to the Football League. Mellon, 47, left Shrewsbury Town to drop into the National League with the Rovers. The former Barnsley manager went on to seal promotion into the EFL &#8211; albeit at the second attempt via a Wembley play-off final; He then made it back-to-back promotions as Tranmere returned to League One for the first time since 2014 by beating Newport County in the League Two play-off final.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"X4Ccc7cjTDxJ3tPyeKurSA\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gettyimages.co.uk\/detail\/1074334370\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'X4Ccc7cjTDxJ3tPyeKurSA',sig:'NfuFIA1i7f77I61i4RKrbzM5tQRDWp93NP2lTbOvv4U=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'1074334370',caption: true ,tld:'co.uk',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><\/p>\n<p>While spending the majority of his career in non-league, it&#8217;s difficult to look past Danny Cowley as one of the most successful managers in recent years. Having taken Lincoln City to League Two, the Essex-born boss then took the Imps to the third-tier before departing for Championship Huddersfield Town.<\/p>\n<p>David Wagner&#8217;s success at Huddersfield Town will live long in the memories of Terriers fans. The now-Schalke boss exceeded expectations with the Yorkshire side, beating Reading on penalties in the Championship play-off final to send Huddersfield into the top-flight for the first time in their history. His time in the Premier League was not so successful, with Wagner departing before the Terriers made an immediate return to the Championship a year later, but the charismatic German&#8217;s legacy will live on in West Yorkshire.<\/p>\n<p><b>Click the right arrow below to find out who has made the top three candidates for the <i>Last Word on Football<\/i> EFL Manager of the Decade award.<\/b><\/p>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<h3>Paul Lambert<\/h3>\n<p>Lambert first made a name for himself with a 7-1 drumming over <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonfootball.com\/clubs\/norwich-city\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Norwich City<\/a> as Colchester United in August 2009; however, he established himself as a successful manager following his switch to the Canaries.<\/p>\n<p>Just ten days after Lambert&#8217;s Colchester side dismantled Norwich in League One, the Scotsman was appointed Canaries boss. He made an immediate impact in the Norfolk side&#8217;s history by turning around their form to lead Norwich to the League One title in April 2010.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"jf5MYcGFST91j5KcdaP5nQ\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gettyimages.co.uk\/detail\/113828296\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'jf5MYcGFST91j5KcdaP5nQ',sig:'l3MOlYsrS8ZyAc7sHtwuIUrPBQ-IBWcDMyZ6cfDFTOQ=',w:'594px',h:'380px',items:'113828296',caption: true ,tld:'co.uk',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Norwich&#8217;s form under Lambert continued in the second-tier and it was no surprise when they produced another promotion push. Lambert&#8217;s expertise from the dug-out secured a second successive promotion; the Canaries never suffered two back-to-back defeats in the league in the same season.<\/p>\n<p>The Canaries survived their first season in the top-flight; however, Lambert left for <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonfootball.com\/clubs\/aston-villa-club-news-analysis-fixtures\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Aston Villa<\/a> in June 2012.<\/p>\n<p>Lambert failed to bring his previous success to Villa as, while in control, he suffered the club&#8217;s heaviest ever defeat in top-flight football as well as an embarrassing FA Cup defeat to Sheffield United &#8211; who at the time were two divisions below Villa.<\/p>\n<p>Subsequent spells with Blackburn Rovers, <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonfootball.com\/clubs\/wolves-club-analysis-news-fixtures\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Wolves<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonfootball.com\/clubs\/stoke-city\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Stoke City<\/a> followed after Lambert left the Villans in February 2015.<\/p>\n<p>Lambert was unable to replicate his successes at his following employers, but his impact at Norwich City has made him a cult hero at Carrow Road.<\/p>\n<h3>Eddie Howe<\/h3>\n<p>Eddie Howe, 42, first ventured into coaching after retiring as a player in 2007. His initial success came prior to the decade, keeping <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonfootball.com\/clubs\/bournemouth\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Bournemouth<\/a> afloat despite a 17-point deficit, but his impact since 2010 is still seen as having a major influence to the South Coast side.<\/p>\n<p>In his first full season in charge, Howe managed the Cherries with the restrictions of a transfer embargo. However, despite the limitations put upon him, a 2-0 victory at Burton Albion in April 2010 meant Howe had secured promotion to League One for Bournemouth.<\/p>\n<p>Howe left for Burnley in January 2011 but returned in October 2012 due to personal reasons.<\/p>\n<p>He made yet another immediate impact by winning the League One Manager of the Month for November; in April 2013 he had secured Bournemouth&#8217;s promotion to the Championship as League One runners-up.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"ji0_7dK1Sndgh3tmxmEVVQ\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gettyimages.co.uk\/detail\/471939780\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'ji0_7dK1Sndgh3tmxmEVVQ',sig:'eAnOm5fAyJYo7PK8s36jg15KTAE0AKDUsantTdwSs94=',w:'594px',h:'401px',items:'471939780',caption: true ,tld:'co.uk',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><\/p>\n<p>The Cherries spent two years in the Championship &#8211; the first of which they finished tenth &#8211; but the second season saw Bournemouth crowned champions as they snitched the title from already-promoted <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonfootball.com\/clubs\/watford\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Watford<\/a> on the final day of the season.<\/p>\n<p>Howe&#8217;s success has continued in England&#8217;s top-flight, keeping the Cherries afloat since arriving in the Premier League in August 2015, but his achievements in the EFL cannot be underestimated.<\/p>\n<p><b>Click the right arrow below to find out who has been named the <i>Last Word on Football<\/i> EFL Manager of the Decade.<\/b><\/p>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<h3>Chris Wilder<\/h3>\n<p>Receiving the most nominations by LWOF readers, and therefore winning our Manager of the Decade gong, is Chris Wilder.<\/p>\n<p>Born in Sheffield, 52-year-old Wilder has been a life-long supporter of the Blades.<\/p>\n<p>So to have made over 100 appearances for his boyhood club would have been a dream; however, his successes as a manager this decade have seen him win the <em>Last Word On Football<\/em> EFL Manager of the Decade award.<\/p>\n<p>Beginning the decade with Oxford United, Wilder won the Conference Premier play-offs in 2010 to take the U&#8217;s into the EFL. Almost four full seasons followed with Oxford before a switch to Northampton Town in January 2014.<\/p>\n<p>Wilder helped the Cobblers avoid relegation from League Two with a mid-table finish; the following year they won the League Two title with 99 points.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"iki0XkbFQS9O5Z4tTGJ85A\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gettyimages.co.uk\/detail\/852947090\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'iki0XkbFQS9O5Z4tTGJ85A',sig:'xNHVMt3A2l-y7mGUucEwD2Zbdmz0l7X8Jg1O6ildD1E=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'852947090',caption: true ,tld:'co.uk',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><\/p>\n<p>The 52-year-old&#8217;s successes then allowed him to replace Nigel Adkins at boyhood club <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonfootball.com\/clubs\/sheffield-united-club-news-analysis-fixtures\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Sheffield United<\/a> in May 2016. The Blades endured a slow start to life in League One; however, they went on to achieve promotion as champions with 100 points, a club record.<\/p>\n<p>In the following season, Wilder embedded himself further into Blades history by setting a record number of goals scored by United against Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough &#8211; they won 4-2 in September 2017.<\/p>\n<p>In April 2019, United&#8217;s nearest rivals, Leeds United, drew 1-1, meaning Sheffield United&#8217;s 12-year exodus from the top-flight had come to an end. Wilder&#8217;s prolonged success across all ten years of the decade made him a firm contender, and he has deservedly been named the <em>Last Word On Football<\/em> EFL Manager of the Decade.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Findings were made based on a poll completed by regular readers of Last Word on Football.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>Main Photo<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"mJOI43RYSC1xe-mF216AgQ\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gettyimages.co.uk\/detail\/1191859455\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'mJOI43RYSC1xe-mF216AgQ',sig:'Z55N95LzhX8TC8A-FmUkTr0qS7JQV1nNlHHakjs03Gk=',w:'594px',h:'409px',items:'1191859455',caption: true ,tld:'co.uk',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The last ten years have seen historic records set, unprecedented winless runs and plenty of drama. It is a cliche to say that supporters are the ones who stay with clubs through the highs and lows, but here are the managers who you have voted to be the best managerial representatives from the EFL. Chris [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3040,"featured_media":539057,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[32,9,33,1266,34,1370],"tags":[1896,2036,515,168,237,957,771,136],"class_list":["post-539046","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-league-football","category-bournemouth","category-championship","category-huddersfield-town","category-league12","category-norwich-city","tag-bournemouth","tag-chris-wilder","tag-eddie-howe","tag-efl","tag-norwich-city","tag-paul-lambert","tag-sheffield-united","tag-world-football"],"modified_by":"Matt Lee","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/539046","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3040"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=539046"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/539046\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/539057"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=539046"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=539046"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=539046"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}