The Owls have been linked with some of the finest players in English football – we’re looking at you, Mr Cantona – it’s tough not to wonder what could have been.
So who slipped through their fingers and who moved on too soon? Let’s look at 15 stars who could’ve made a difference.
1. Jamie Vardy
No secret, this. Leicester star Jamie Vardy is a lifelong Wednesdayite and kicked his first football in the shadows of Hillsborough Stadium. Released from the Owls academy, he made his way from Stocksbridge Park Steels to the England side and could have been picked up once or twice along the way. Photo: Michael Regan
2. Grant Holt
Another non-league graduate, Holt signed for Wednesday from Barrow in 2003 but stayed for less than a year before moving to Rochdale. Some years later he'd bag 15 goals in a season at Norwich and was talked up as a potential Euro 2016 inclusion with England. Photo: Alex Livesey
3. Danny Batth
A Wednesday loanee on two occasions, Danny Batth never made the permanent move to Hillsborough despite a showing that saw him named as runner-up for the club's player of the season award in 2012. Ended up starring for home club Wolves and is now at Stoke. Photo: Lewis Storey
4. Emerson Thome
So, they call him Emerson Thome.. The subject of one of the great Sheffield Wednesday chants, Brazilian centre-half Emerson Thome had a spell all too fleeting in S6, producing a classy partnership with Des Walker at the heart of the backline before he was sold on to Chelsea months before relegation from the top tier. What could have been. Photo: Mike Finn-Kelcey