Why former Sheffield Wednesday boss Carlos Carvalhal will be an 'Owl forever'

The 54-year-old Portuguese, who led the Owls to back-to-back play-off campaigns in his two full seasons at Hillsborough, said the club will always have a special place in his heart during an interview on the White and Sawyer programme on talkSPORT.

Carvalhal left Hillsborough by mutual consent on Christmas Eve in 2017 but soon returned to work at Swansea City – where he was sacked following the Swans’ relegation to the Championship.

"I must say that even now I love Sheffield Wednesday,” he said. “I talk about Sheffield Wednesday more than Swansea because at Swansea I was there just five months. It's completely different.

"I have a connection with Sheffield Wednesday. (When) I was there (we reached) two play offs, with one final at Wembley. You are part of the club and when you are you belong to the club forever.

"I played against Sheffield Wednesday with Swansea and, of course, I tried to win - and we did win in the cup (2-0 after a replay in 2018).

“But if you ask me, I'm an Owl forever. It's something you can never forget."

Charismatic Carvahal is currently managing Rio Ave in his native Portugal. They are seventh in the Primeira Liga.

However, he has been linked with a move to coach Red Bull Bragantino in Brazil but a national newspaper in England has said Carvalhal’s switch has been blocked by Rio Ave.

His contract with Rio Ave runs out at the end of the season.