The Carlos Carvalhal era at Sheffield Wednesday is being remembered again, this time through Barry Bannan’s affection for a period which still carries enormous emotional weight at Hillsborough.
O Jogo have revisited the Portuguese manager’s spell with the Owls, and Bannan’s reflections paint the picture of a coach who still holds near-mythical status among many Wednesday supporters.
Bannan spent more than a decade at Sheffield Wednesday and only left earlier this year, after 477 appearances for the club. His January move to Millwall came during a bad financial period for Wednesday, one which eventually ended with relegation to League One.
For many supporters, that collapse only sharpened the nostalgia around the Carvalhal years.
Bannan remembers Carvalhal’s impact
Carlos Carvalhal arrived at Sheffield Wednesday in 2015 and immediately transformed the mood around the club. The Owls reached the Championship play-off final in his first season and followed it with another top-six finish a year later.
That period remains one of the closest times Wednesday have come to the Premier League in modern times. According to Bannan, the impact was instant.
“Carlos’ spell at Sheffield Wednesday had an immediate impact. The fans loved him because his style of football was exciting and ambitious, exactly what they wanted to see,” he told O Jogo.
“He brought several players the stands identified with. And he made everyone believe in his passion, on and off the pitch. He motivated us to give everything for him,” he said.
“Also, he was great at making everyone feel part of the team and his management was incredible. He made the fans believe, not only in his football, but also in the results we were getting.”
That Sheffield Wednesday side became known for its intensity, emotion and connection with supporters. Fernando Forestieri, Barry Bannan, Kieran Lee and others became cult figures during that period.
Carvalhal himself also built a special relationship with the crowd at Hillsborough. Even now, years after his exit, supporters still speak warmly about him.
The relationship went beyond football
Barry Bannan is now at Millwall, but his connection to Sheffield Wednesday remains obvious. The Scotland international made it clear Carvalhal’s status in the city has never faded.
“He is loved and worshipped. He will always be welcome.”
Bannan then reflected on how close Wednesday came to something much bigger under the Portuguese coach.
“If he had taken us to promotion, he would have gone down in history. If he had led the team to the Premier League, I believe the relationship would have been prosperous for several years, with a lot of fun on the pitch.”
The midfielder also shared stories which showed the personal side of Carvalhal’s management.
“It was brilliant, we built a great relationship and I feel he always looked after me. He used to give us some days off, but he knew he could expect everything from me”, he said.
“One time I was in Dubai and should have been back the next day. I asked him if I could arrive a day later and he immediately replied: ‘If you’re alone, yes, but you only have half that time with you, so you have to come back tomorrow already.’”
Bannan laughed while remembering the exchange, but another memory clearly meant more to him.
After Sheffield Wednesday lost the 2016 Championship play-off final to Hull City, the dressing room was devastated. Carvalhal’s speech afterwards stayed with him.
“After we lost the play-off final, with the whole group down and dejected, his speech was incredible. He spoke about going further the following season. I realised he was a winner and a great coach.”
Why this still matters at Sheffield Wednesday
Barry Bannan’s comments land differently today because of everything Sheffield Wednesday have suffered since then.
The club’s recent financial crisis, relegation to League One and the painful end to several long-serving figures have only increased the emotional attachment supporters feel towards the Carvalhal era.
For many fans, it represents the last time Wednesday truly felt alive and upwardly mobile. Bannan’s words suggest the connection between Carvalhal and the club never disappeared either.
“He was formidable, but he also showed he was an incredible person. We still speak today and he always asks about Sheffield Wednesday. He follows the club with affection.”
For Bannan, the emotional fit between manager, supporters and city was what made the spell so memorable.
“It was a perfect combination, because the fans are very passionate and he loved feeling that.”
And in the end he explained everything about how Carvalhal is still viewed around Hillsborough.
“He is a friend forever.”
