Former Wednesday boss Carlos Carvalhal hints at possible Hillsborough return

Few managers in Sheffield Wednesday’s modern history are held in higher regard than Carlos Carvalhal, and the admiration between the Portuguese coach and the club’s supporters appears to remain as strong as ever.

The Owls have experienced a dramatic turnaround over the past year, moving from uncertainty surrounding their future to a renewed sense of optimism under fresh ownership.

Just a month into the Arise consortium’s stewardship, signs of a new direction are already emerging at Hillsborough. With David Storch leading the ownership group, David Bruce installed as chief executive, and Simon Wilson strongly linked with a sporting director role, the club appears to be building a clear long-term structure as it prepares for life back in League One.

There is growing belief around Hillsborough that the foundations are finally being laid for Sheffield Wednesday to rebuild and eventually challenge for a return to the Premier League.

Carvalhal remains the last manager to guide Wednesday into the Championship play-offs, overseeing back-to-back top-six finishes during his two full seasons in charge. The Owls narrowly missed out on promotion after losing to Hull City in the 2016 final before suffering penalty heartbreak against Huddersfield Town in the 2017 semi-finals.

Those years are still fondly remembered by supporters and are widely viewed as the standout period of the club’s previous ownership era.

Recently returning to Hillsborough for a charity match, Carvalhal spoke warmly about his enduring bond with Sheffield Wednesday and admitted he still follows the club closely.

The former boss said he remains emotionally attached to Wednesday, regularly checking results and tracking matches on his phone. He also expressed sadness at the struggles the club has faced in recent seasons but admitted the atmosphere surrounding the final game of the Championship campaign gave him fresh hope for the future.

Carvalhal praised the impact of the new ownership and highlighted the packed stadium on the final day as an emotional moment, viewing it as a sign of renewed belief among supporters.

Asked directly about the possibility of one day returning to Hillsborough, the 60-year-old refused to dismiss the idea.

While acknowledging a common saying in Portugal that advises against returning to places where happiness was once found, Carvalhal pointed to successful second spells at previous clubs such as Vitória Setúbal and Braga, where he enjoyed silverware and strong achievements after coming back.

“You never know,” he suggested with a smile, leaving the door slightly open to a potential reunion in the future.

For now, many supporters feel current boss Pedersen deserves the opportunity to lead Wednesday into this new chapter with improved backing and a stronger squad. But football moves quickly, and if the paths of manager and club eventually diverge, Carvalhal’s latest comments may only fuel hopes among fans that one day he could return to finish what he started at Hillsborough.

Should that happen, his standing among Wednesday supporters would likely grow even stronger than it already is.