Howard Wilkinson
Howard is a universally respected figure in football; a former title-winning manager whose influence stretches to the top of the game. Also the long-standing chairman of the League Managers Association, Wilkinson has taken charge of the England team on two occasions. His current involvement extends to being technical adviser at Sheffield Wednesday, the club he supported, played for and managed. In addition to being a successful club boss, Howard was a trusted aide to several England managers including Sir Bobby Robson before becoming the Football Association's technical director.
Sheffield-born Wilkinson prepared himself thoroughly for management in his own meticulous style, securing coaching qualifications and serving a non-league apprenticeship with Jim Smith's Boston United where he ended his career as a player.
After being appointed Boston's player-manager in 1975, he won two Northern Premier League titles to add to the three he collected as a team member.
Wilkinson gained further experience as part of the national coaching set-up before teaming up with veteran boss Jimmy Sirrel, a major influence, at Notts County. He stepped up to first-team duties and helped establish County in the top flight, after a recent promotion, with an impressive 15th place in 1982-83. Howard was lured home to Hillsborough the following summer and promptly restored Wednesday to the First Division in his opening season. He then made the Owls a highly competitive outfit in the top flight, finishing fifth in 1986. Leeds United raided Wednesday for his services in October '88. Wilkinson delivered promotion to Elland Road 18 months later, winning the Second Division with a side that included the inspirational capture of Gordon Strachan.
He then made another hugely influential signing in Gary McAllister who became playmaker for a team pushed to a higher level by Wilkinson's development via the youth ranks of Gary Speed and David Batty. After an impressive fourth place in Leeds' first season back in top company, Wilkinson's side won the championship in 1992 before also claiming the Charity Shield in a thrilling 4-3 win over holders Liverpool. Howard remains the last English manager to win the league - and also, coincidentally, the last to land the First Division championship before the creation of the Premier League. He went on to reach a League Cup final appearance in his eight years at Elland Road.
Wilkinson became FA technical director in 1997, a role in which he oversaw coaching programmes and launched the National Football Centre project. He was twice England caretaker boss - for a friendly with France after the departure of Glenn Hoddle and for a drawn World Cup qualifier in Finland following the resignation of Kevin Keegan.
Aside from a brief return to management at Sunderland, Howard has occupied various roles including adviser to Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua, temporary first-team coach at Leicester City and non-executive director of Notts County.
He made a return to Hillsborough in January, 2009 to advise a new board on football matters, including a blueprint for potential new investors.
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