As a player, he played an important role in perhaps the most iconic Owls sides of all-time, winning the Rumbelows Cup and promotion from the Second Division in 1991 before reaching both domestic cup finals two years later.
He returned as manager in 1998 is hugely difficult circumstances he has admitted were tougher than even he suspected would be the case as the club battled debt, off-field controversy and an ageing squad – leading to relegation from a top tier to which they are yet to return.
There aren’t many who had such close insight at both ends of a fascinating decade for the club.
Across the two spells Wilson worked alongside some of the greatest players in Wednesday’s history. But who makes his ultimate Owls XI? And perhaps more to the point – who misses out?
In conversation with The Star, here’s the side Wilson plumped for..
1. He played well over 100 times for Wednesday..
..and managed them 77 times. Let's see what Wilson's side looks like - and why he picked the team as he did. Photo: .
2. MANAGER - Ron Atkinson
The two I played under were excellent in their own right - one vastly experienced and one not so much - but both legends. Trevor Francis I felt lucky to share rooms with when we played together - when he stepped up he did remarkably well and was unlucky. But I have to go for Ron Atkinson who was a fantastic manager, such a motivator in the Clough mould, you felt 10-foot tall when he spoke to you and he played an excellent style. Photo: Steve Ellis
3. GK - Chris Woods
Chrissy came in with a fantastic reputation and that was the sort of thing Trevor wanted to put together, we wanted people to take notice. He was a brilliant lad and he was agile, brave, his distribution was great. He settled in no problem. It could have been a few of them (Pressman, Turner, Srnicek) and it may seem like they've been harshly overlooked but you have to pick one. But Chrissy Woods gets the nod. Photo: Steve Ellis
4. RB - Roland Nilsson
There is only one, the Rolls Royce himself - Roland Nilsson. He just never looked stressed in all the games I played with him, he was 100% both attacking and defending and to top it all he was a good-looking so-and-so! He was a top professional, a quality international and brilliant to play with. He always had your back and was always a stand-out player. Photo: Steve Ellis