Exclusive: Danny Rohl’s Sheffield Wednesday Revolution Wins Backing from Hillsborough Hero

Danny Rohl has totally transformed Sheffield Wednesday according to a Hillsborough favourite, who admits he is keeping his fingers crossed that the German remains in charge next season.

Aged 35, the former RB Leipzig and Die Mannschaft assistant is attracting admiring glances from a host of clubs both in England and abroad after impressing in South Yorkshire.

Describing the decision to appoint him as “inspired”, Imre Varadi has exclusively told SportsBoom.com that the impact Rohl has made since joining The Owls must not be under-estimated.

“Everyone I speak to tells me what a difference Danny has made,” said Varadi, who scored 36 league goals for Wednesday during his two spells there. 

“I can totally understand why other people are looking at him, why they admire him and why they’d want him. I’m sure Danny is going to be a man in big demand."

“But Wednesday are a great name with an absolutely amazing fan base. One of the very best around."

“So, given my close ties to there, I’m really hoping he stays and wants to build on all the excellent work he’s done so far."

“Bringing him in has turned out to be inspired and, hopefully, long may it continue.”

Varadi, now aged 65 and a FIFA registered agent, made the last of his near 100 appearances for Wednesday during the 1989/90 season before joining Leeds where he was a member of the squad which won the old First Division title two years later.

His achievements in South Yorkshire, where he began his professional career with arch-rivals Sheffield United, include helping Wednesday secure a return to top-flight football and also a spell at Rotherham United. 

INFLATABLE BANANA CRAZE

Despite also representing the likes of Everton, Newcastle and Manchester City, where he inspired the inflatable banana craze which is now in the process of being resurrected at grounds across the country, he is remembered most fondly by followers of Wednesday. 

His close friend and one-time team mate Mel Sterland joined Hillsborough and Elland Road giant Howard Wilkinson at an event designed to launch the ‘Imre Banana’ brand ahead of Wednesday’s recent Championship fixture against Sunderland.

Rohl, who also worked at Southampton before being appointed, is understood to be the preferred choice of senior figures behind the scenes at St Mary’s to take charge if, as expected, they are relegated from the top-flight this term. 

He inherited a Wednesday side which was spiralling towards League One after being hired by chairman Dejphon Chansiri in October 2023. 

After saving them from the drop, Rohl has now guided them into play-off contention although last weekend’s defeat to arch-rivals United dented his hopes of securing a top six finish.

“I’m at Hillsborough a lot and one of the things which really comes across is how Danny has brought the whole club together,” Varadi said. 

“Listen, he’s obviously a very gifted manager and coach. But that ability to build a culture behind the scenes is so, so important too. In a different way it’s something Chris (Wilder) has done across the city at (Sheffield) United too."

“Chris has got a huge history there and it’s his club. He’s United through and through and everyone knows he’s a fan too."

“Danny came in without any ties to Wednesday and so he had to do it in a different way."

“People always tell me how everyone feels a part of what is happening now,” Varadi added. 

“They feel like they win together and they lose together because of how Danny is around the place. He’s joined everything up and made Wednesday into a cohesive unit.”