'An amazing legend' - Henrik Pedersen gives verdict on Barry Bannan ahead of Sheffield Wednesday exit
Barry Bannan is expected to leave Sheffield Wednesday and join Championship counterparts Millwall.
Manager Henrik Pedersen has said Barry Bannan has secured his status as a Sheffield Wednesday legend alongside some of the club’s all-time greats ahead of an expected exit.
Bannan, 36, is expected to leave Hillsborough in the coming days and join Championship counterparts Millwall, ending his ten-and-a-half-year stay at Hillsborough.
The Scot made his 477th appearance for the Owls in Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to Bristol City at Ashton Gate and was reduced to tears following the full-time whistle. He was pushed in front of the away end by his teammates before having to be consoled by Liam Palmer and Liam Cooper after becoming overwhelmed.
Bannan, who joined Wednesday on a free transfer back in August 2015, has etched his name in Wednesday folklore for his dedication, commitment and loyalty. Playing just shy of 480 games for the club, Wednesdayites, likewise his teammates, are going to require time to get used to life without him.
Although the Scot has never had the opportunity to represent Wednesday at the highest level, he will be remembered in the same breath as some of Wednesday’s most iconic figures, such as Chris Waddle, John Sheridan and David Hirst, who were part of the success the club enjoyed in the 1990s.
And with that said, Pedersen, who was visibly emotional as he discussed Bannan’s expected departure, believes the former Aston Villa man will be remembered in the same vein as some of Wednesday’s former greats.
Pedersen lauds Bannan
Asked if Bannan will be remembered as a Wednesday great, Pedersen said: “Yes, of course. He has been an amazing legend.
“Chris, Hirsty, the other fantastic, real legends - but Barry will also be.”
Substituted in the latter stages at Ashton Gate, Bannan, who was replaced by Jarvis Thornton, was applauded by all four sides of the stadium, as well as being embraced by Bristol City’s players and their boss, Gerhard Struber, as he left the pitch.
“It was emotional, of course,” Pedersen continued. “It has to be emotional when a player that has been at the club for ten years is leaving.
“If it was not emotional, then we were wrong.
“We want to care for each other, we want to be there for each other. So, of course, in the way we are working, then the human behind each player means a lot for us.
“Barry means very much.”
Offering his opinion on why Bannan means so much to the Owls, Pedersen added: “As I have said to the players in the dressing room, the basic value is that the human comes first. How we are as a human, how we are together as humans, how we perform together.
“It doesn't matter what we can do as a football player. If the human is not in balance and ready to do everything, talent doesn't help.
“The other thing is how he has been ready to give, give and give without getting something. For me, he is a special player and a special human.”