Owls boss Ron Atkinson named greatest Sheffield football manager in history

The former Hillsborough chief secured victory in our head to head poll to find the boss who deserved the ultimate accolade of the Steel City's best ever manager.

Nearly 2,000 people cast their vote in the poll, with 55% plumping for Atkinson and 45% casting their x for Bassett.

Atkinson secured 1,082 votes to Bassett's 883.

It marks a double for Big Ron, who was recently voted the best Sheffield Wednesday manager of all time by Owls supporters.

Blades fans chose Bassett as their ultimate Blades boss - and we decided to see who deserved the crown of the city's number one by putting the pair head to head.

Atkinson arrived at Hillsborough in February 1989 after a spell at Atletico Madrid.

Although the club were relegated to the Second Division in 1990, Atkinson secured promotion back to the First Division the following season.

They also won the League Cup that year, beating Manchester United 1–0 at Wembley.

On 31 May 1991 Atkinson stated he would be remaining as Wednesday's manager, only to leave for Aston Villa a week later, a move that upset some Sheffield Wednesday fans with "Judas" chants echoing around Hillsborough following his departure.

After spells at Villa Park and Coventry City, Big Ron was back in Sheffield in the autumn of 1997. In November of that year, he returned to Wednesday following the sacking of David Pleat.

Wednesday had made a poor start to the 1997–98 season, including a 7–2 loss at Blackburn and a 6–1 loss at Manchester United. Under Atkinson, Wednesday's form picked up immediately and they pulled well clear of relegation trouble, but he was not rewarded with a permanent contract.