Conor Sellars

{{Infobox football biography

|name = Conor Sellars

|image =

|full_name = Conor Joseph Sellars

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1992|2|15|df=y}}{{Worldfootball.net|conor-sellars}}

|birth_place = Leeds, England

|height = 1.67 m

|position = Midfielder

|currentclub = Hull City (coach)

|youthyears1 = 2007–2010

|youthclubs1 = Middlesbrough

|youthyears2 = 2010–2011

|youthclubs2 = Rochdale

|years1 = 2011–2012

|clubs1 = Fão

|caps1 = 9

|goals1 = 0

|years2 = 2012–2013

|clubs2 = Hallam

|caps2 =

|goals2 = 9

|years3 = 2013

|clubs3 = Höttur

|caps3 = 8

|goals3 = 1

|years4 = 2013

|clubs4 = Harrogate Railway Athletic

|caps4 =

|goals4 =

|years5 = 2013–2014

|clubs5 = Harrogate Town

|caps5 = 14

|goals5 = 1

|years6 = 2014–2015

|clubs6 = Worksop Town

|caps6 =

|goals6 =

|years7 = 2015–2018

|clubs7 = Tadcaster Albion

|caps7 =

|goals7 =

|totalcaps =

|totalgoals =

|manageryears1 = 2020–2021

|managerclubs1 = Bradford City (joint caretaker manager)

|manageryears2 = 2021

|managerclubs2 = Bradford City (joint manager)

}}

Conor Joseph Sellars (born 15 February 1992) is an English football coach and former player who is the under-23 lead professional development phase coach at Hull City.

Playing career

Born in Leeds,{{ForaDeJogo|199201150007}} Sellars, a midfielder, began his youth career at Middlesbrough and Rochdale, before playing professionally in Portugal for Fão and in Iceland for Höttur.{{cite web|url=https://www.tadalbion.com/news/tafc-strengthen-squad-by-signing-former-middlesbrough-midfielder-1539156.html|title=TAFC strengthen squad by signing former Middlesbrough midfielder|website=www.tadalbion.com}} He made eight appearances for 2. deild karla side Höttur, scoring once.{{cite web|url=https://www.ksi.is/mot/leikmadur/?leikmadur=292078|title=Conor Sellars|publisher=Football Association of Iceland|accessdate=22 February 2021|language=Icelandic}} He also played non-league football in England for Hallam, Harrogate Railway Athletic,{{cite web|url=https://www.nonleagueyorkshire.com/2015/12/11/connorsellarstadcaster/|title=Tadcaster grab Conor Sellars|first=James|last=Grayson|date=11 December 2015|website=Non League Yorkshire}} Harrogate Town,{{cite web|url=https://us.soccerway.com/players/conor-sellars/323703/|title=England - C. Sellars - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway|website=us.soccerway.com}} Worksop Town,{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/9488629/non-league-football-conor-sellars-delighted-with-form-for-worksop-town|title=Non-league football: Conor Sellars delighted with form for Worksop Town|website=Sky Sports}} and Tadcaster Albion,{{Cite web|url=https://nonleaguedaily.com/sellars-stays-with-tadcaster-albion/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121024912/https://nonleaguedaily.com/sellars-stays-with-tadcaster-albion/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=21 January 2021|title=Sellars stays with Tadcaster Albion | Non League Daily}}{{cite web|url=http://www.nonleagueyorkshire.com/2017/05/23/sellars-agrees-extend-tad-stay/|title=Sellars agrees to extend Tad stay|first=James|last=Grayson|date=23 May 2017|website=Non League Yorkshire}} before retiring in May 2018 to concentrate on his coaching career.{{cite web|url=https://www.tadalbion.com/news/breaking-news--wizard-waves-goodbye--2311306.html|title=BREAKING NEWS | Wizard Waves Goodbye|website=www.tadalbion.com}}

Coaching career

He has worked for Bradford City as a youth coach,{{cite web|url=https://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/news/2020/january/sellars-looking-forward-to-chelsea-test/|title=SELLARS LOOKING FORWARD TO CHELSEA TEST|website=www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk}} before being appointed caretaker manager alongside Mark Trueman in December 2020.{{cite web|url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/bradford-city/stuart-mccall-sacked-lowly-bradford-city-3066307|title=Stuart McCall sacked by lowly Bradford City|website=www.yorkshirepost.co.uk}}{{cite web|url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/18943905.time-mccall-less-bantams-step-says-temporary-boss-trueman/|title=Time for McCall-less Bantams to step up, says temporary boss Trueman|website=Bradford Telegraph and Argus}} Their first match was a 1–1 draw away at Crawley Town on 15 December 2020, the club's first point in six games.{{cite web|url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/18946902.bantams-reaction-fighting-spirit-pleases-caretaker-boss/|title=BANTAMS REACTION: Fighting spirit in Crawley draw pleases caretaker boss Trueman|website=Bradford Telegraph and Argus}}{{cite web|url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/18946859.match-report-happier-ending-trueman-show-bantams/|title=MATCH REPORT: Happier ending to Trueman show as Bantams stop the rot|website=Bradford Telegraph and Argus}} The club's CEO Ryan Sparks said that Trueman and Sellars had the board's full support whilst the search for a permanent manager was ongoing.{{cite web|url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/18953120.academy-coaches-wont-make-radical-changes-bantams-helm/|title=Stand-in duo aiming to keep it simple for Bantams|website=Bradford Telegraph and Argus}} Their second match was a 1–0 victory at home against Cambridge United on 19 December 2020, the club's first league win in eight matches.{{cite web|url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/18957415.bantams-reaction-truemans-delight-city-earn-crucial-win/|title=BANTAMS REACTION: Trueman's delight as City get back to winning ways|website=Bradford Telegraph and Argus}}{{cite web|url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/18957481.simon-parkers-verdict-dynamic-duo-lifting-bantam-spirits/|title=SIMON PARKER'S VERDICT: Dynamic duo put Bantams back on firmer footing|website=Bradford Telegraph and Argus}} After the result, Truman and Sellars had a celebratory beer, and then spent seven to eight hours the next day planning for the next game.{{cite web|url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/18964300.trueman-sellars-transforming-mood-bradford-city/|title=Trueman and Sellars transforming Bradford City's mood|website=Bradford Telegraph and Argus}} Sellars later said that the players were reacting to the caretaker managers' hard work.{{cite web|url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/18960773.sellars-bradford-city-players-respecting-hard-work/|title=Players respect our openness and honesty, says caretaker Bantams coach Sellars|website=Bradford Telegraph and Argus}}

On 28 December 2020, it was announced that Trueman and Sellars had been promoted to 'interim' managers and would remain in charge of the team for at least January 2021.{{cite web|url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/18972169.trueman-sellars-stay-bantams-helm-transfer-window/|title=Bradford City promote Trueman and Sellars to interim bosses|website=Bradford Telegraph and Argus}}{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11745/12174112/bradford-city-mark-trueman-and-conor-sellars-will-remain-in-interim-charge-until-further-notice|title=Bradford City: Mark Trueman and Conor Sellars will remain in interim charge until further notice|website=Sky Sports}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55467012|title=Bantams duo in charge 'until further notice'|work=BBC Sport }} Sellars later spoke about being in charge for this first transfer window in January 2021,{{cite web|url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/19016651.sellars-buzzing-long-hours-pay-off-bantams-window/|title="It's not a normal month - but we can make up for the sleep in February"|website=Bradford Telegraph and Argus}} telling players who might have lost their place in the first-team as a result of new signings to continue training and working hard.{{cite web|url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/19030463.sellars-warns-bantams-dont-get-lazy-not-team/ |title=Sellars warns Bantams: Don't get lazy if you're not in team | Bradford Telegraph and Argus |publisher=Thetelegraphandargus.co.uk |accessdate=23 January 2021}}

In February 2021 Bradford City CEO Ryan Sparks said that Trueman and Sellars were happy with their 'interim' status and were not pushing to be made permanent managers.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/19061083.bradford-city-interim-bosses-not-thinking-job-titles/|title=Bradford City management duo remain comfortable with interim position|website=Bradford Telegraph and Argus}} Later that month Trueman and Sellars were nominated for the January 2021 EFL League Two Manager of the Month award, after 2 wins and 1 draw in their 3 league games that month.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/news/2021/february/trueman-and-sellars-in-manager-of-month-nomination/|title=TRUEMAN AND SELLARS IN MANAGER OF MONTH NOMINATION|website=www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk}} Trueman and Sellars were also praised by player Connor Wood for their maturity and detail.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/19102598.wood-praises-best-ever-analysis-bradford-city-bosses/|title="It's as if they've been managing a first team for years"|website=Bradford Telegraph and Argus}}

On 22 February 2021, Trueman and Sellars were announced as Bradford City's joint permanent managers, on a contract until the end of the 2021–22 season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/19107342.breaking-trueman-sellars-named-bantams-joint-managers/|title=Bradford City name Trueman and Sellars as permanent joint managers|website=Bradford Telegraph and Argus}} They were the youngest managers in the English Football League.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/the-joint-managers-ready-to-end-bradfords-toxic-era-of-struggle-mnnv3v20v|title=The joint managers ready to end Bradford's 'toxic' era of struggle|first=Gregor|last=Robertson|via=www.thetimes.co.uk}}

By 8 March 2021, Trueman and Sellars had won 10 out of 15 league games, only losing once, and guided Bradford City from 22nd to 10th in the division. That same day the duo were nominated for the February 2021 EFL League Two Manager of the Month award, after one loss and four successive victories.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/19144537.bradford-city-duo-shortlisted-league-two-manager-award/|title=Bradford City management duo nominated for monthly award again|website=Bradford Telegraph and Argus}}

In May 2021, after a dip in the team's form which saw them lose five matches in a row, Sellars said that he and Trueman would get out of their slump and that they had done their job in guiding the club away from relegation.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/19283983.bantams-duo-will-learn-sticky-patch-says-sellars/|title="Our aim was to avoid relegation and we did that really early on. Anything from that was a bonus"|website=Bradford Telegraph and Argus}} On 10 May 2021, however, the two managers had their management contracts terminated by the club, having finished the season with a run of just one point from a possible 21 that ended in a mid-table finish. The two were offered alternative roles at the club,{{cite web|url=https://www.bradfordcityafc.com/news/2021/may/club-statement-mark-trueman-and-conor-sellars/|title=CLUB STATEMENT: MARK TRUEMAN AND CONOR SELLARS|website=www.bradfordcityafc.com|date=10 May 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/19291952.bradford-city-relieve-trueman-sellars-first-team-roles/|title=Trueman and Sellars SACKED as City look to rebuild|website=Bradford Telegraph and Argus}} who were hopeful that the duo would remain.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/19332907.trueman-sellars-close-bradford-city-decision/|title=Bradford City future of former managerial duo to be decided "in coming days"|website=Bradford Telegraph and Argus}} It was later announced that Trueman would stay with the club as a first-team link coach, although Sellars had yet to make a decision.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportlatest/19366967.trueman-gets-new-bradford-city-job-sellars-talks-continue/|title=Trueman signs three-year deal to stay at Bradford City in new link role|website=Bradford Telegraph and Argus}}

Sellars left Bradford City on 18 June 2021, after seven years with the club, although the club said they would still fund Sellars' UEFA Pro (Level 5) license coaching course.{{cite web|url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportlatest/19382762.bradford-city-sellars-part-ways-uefa-support-offered/|title=Sellars says farewell as he leaves City after seven years|website=Bradford Telegraph and Argus|accessdate=19 June 2022}} In July 2022 he became the under-23 lead professional development phase coach at Hull City.{{cite web|url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportlatest/20261988.former-bradford-city-boss-sellars-appointed-hull/|title=New coaching role for former Bantams boss Sellars|website=Bradford Telegraph and Argus|accessdate=8 July 2022}}

Coaching style

In February 2021 Sellars said that he is influenced by foreign coaching styles, including the Italian football he watched as a child and the time he spent as a player in Portugal and Iceland.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/19089215.bantams-joint-interim-boss-sellars-influenced-abroad/|title=The continental influence behind Bradford City coaching methods|website=Bradford Telegraph and Argus}}

Personal life

His father is former footballer Scott Sellars.

Managerial statistics

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
rowspan="2"\|Team !rowspan="2"\|From !rowspan="2"\|To !colspan="8"\|Record
{{Tooltip\|P\|Matches played}} !{{Tooltip\|W\|Games won}} !{{Tooltip\|D\|Games drawn}} !{{Tooltip\|L\|Games lost}} !{{Tooltip\|Win %\|Winning percentage}}
align="left" \|Bradford City{{citation needed\|date=March 2025}} \|align=left\|13 December 2020 \|align=left\|10 May 2021 {{WDL\|30\|13\|7\|10}}
colspan=3\|Total {{WDLtot\|30\|13\|7\|10\|decimals=2}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"

rowspan="2"|Team

!rowspan="2"|From

!rowspan="2"|To

!colspan="8"|Record

!{{Tooltip|W|Games won}}

!{{Tooltip|D|Games drawn}}

!{{Tooltip|L|Games lost}}

!{{Tooltip|Win %|Winning percentage}}

align="left" |Bradford City{{citation needed|date=March 2025}}

|align=left|13 December 2020

|align=left|10 May 2021