CHRIS Wilder has officially been confirmed as Middlesbrough’s new manager.

The former Sheffield United boss takes over with immediate effect and succeeds Neil Warnock, who managed the final game of his 75 match tenure yesterday which ended in a 1-1 draw with West Brom.

The 54-year-old will be joined by his long time assistant Alan Knill.

Wilder started his managerial career with Alfreton in 2001 before going on to take charge of Halifax Town for six years until 2008 where the club was dissolved due to financial difficulties.

A new challenge awaited him with Oxford United which would kick start the succession of promotions in his career.

He successfully led the U’s to the Football League via the play-offs and consolidated their status in the EFL for the next three years.

He went on to take over at Northampton in 2014 where he defied the odds to lead them to promotion to League One, despite operating with financial difficulties throughout the season with players not being paid in certain months.

From there, Wilder would then go on to earn his dream job of managing his boyhood club Sheffield United. Initially starting his reign in League One, he would go on to seal two promotions in three years with the Blades breaking plenty of records along the way.

In their promotion season in the Championship, United lost just two games in 2020.

Under a unique system and playing style, Sheffield United almost reached a Europa League spot but fell away in the final games of the season but still managed to finish in 9th place, United’s highest ever finish in the Premier League.

The second season didn’t quite go to plan. With 14 points from 28 games and United looking doomed to relegation, Wilder was sacked by the Blades hierarchy in March 2020.

This is his first job back in management being let go by the Blades and takes over a Boro side who currently sit 15th in the Championship table.