Editing Sheffield Wednesday F.C. (section)

===Life at the top of the Premier League and European Football (1984–2000)===
Wednesday enjoyed success in its return to the top flight, finishing 8th in their first season back and then 5th the season later, qualifying for European football only to be disqualified due to England's ban in Europe due to the [[Heysel Stadium disaster]].

On 15 April 1989 the club's stadium was the scene of [[Hillsborough disaster|one of the worst sporting tragedies ever]], at the FA Cup semi-final between [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] and [[Nottingham Forest F.C.|Nottingham Forest]], at which 97 Liverpool fans were fatally crushed in the Leppings Lane end of the stadium.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/april/15/newsid_2491000/2491195.stm |title=BBC ON THIS DAY &#124; 1989: Football fans crushed at Hillsborough |publisher=BBC News |date=15 April 1945 |access-date=31 January 2013}}</ref> The tragedy resulted in many changes at Hillsborough and all other leading stadiums in England; it was required that terracing would be replaced with seats in stands,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15968408 |title=Hillsborough Thatcher files to be released by June 2012 |publisher=BBC |date=30 November 2011 |access-date=31 January 2013}}</ref> and that perimeter fencing should be removed.<ref>{{cite web|last=Bolton |first=Andy |url=http://www.nce.co.uk/features/nce-40-years/no10-hillsborough-disaster/8629876.article |title=No.10 Hillsborough disaster &#124; New Civil Engineer |publisher=Nce.co.uk |date=2 May 2012 |access-date=31 January 2013}}</ref>

In Ron Atkinson's first full season as manager, 1989–90, Sheffield Wednesday finished 18th in the First Division and were relegated on [[goal difference]], despite the acquisition of the talented [[John Sheridan (football)|John Sheridan]] and the fact they had pulled towards mid-table at one stage of the season. They regained promotion at the first attempt but the real highlight of the season was a League Cup final victory over Atkinson's old club Manchester United. Midfielder Sheridan scored the only goal of the game, which delivered the club's first major trophy since their FA Cup success in 1935. As of 2025 they remain the last team to win one of English football's major trophies while outside the top flight.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://talksport.com/football/fa-cup/128830/man-united-and-arsenals-shock-defeats-when-teams-outside-top-flight-reach-cup-finals/ |title = Man United and Arsenal's SHOCK defeats: When teams outside the top flight reach cup finals|date = 24 January 2012}}</ref> Atkinson moved to [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]] shortly after promotion was achieved, and handed over the reins to 37-year-old striker [[Trevor Francis]].

Wednesday finished third in the First Division at the end of the 1991–92 season, booking their place in the following season's UEFA Cup and becoming a founding member of the new [[FA Premier League]].

1992–93 was one of the most eventful seasons in the history of Sheffield Wednesday football club. They finished seventh in the Premier League and reached the finals of both the FA Cup and the League Cup, but were on the losing side to [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] in both games, the FA Cup final going to a replay and only settled in the last minute of extra time. This prevented the Owls from making another appearance in European competition. Still, the 1992–93 season established Sheffield Wednesday as a top club. Midfielder [[Chris Waddle]] was voted [[Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year]], and the strike partnership of [[David Hirst (footballer)|David Hirst]] and [[Mark Bright]] was one of the most feared in the country. Francis was unable to achieve any more success at the club, and two seasons later he was sacked. His successor was former [[Luton Town F.C.|Luton]], [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester]] and [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham]] manager [[David Pleat]].

David Pleat's first season as Sheffield Wednesday manager was frustrating, as they finished 15th in the Premiership despite an expensively-assembled line-up which included the likes of [[Marc Degryse]], [[Dejan Stefanovic]] and [[Darko Kovacevic]] – who all had disappointing and short-lived tenures at the club. An excellent start to the 1996–97 season saw the Owls top the Premiership after winning their first four games, and David Pleat was credited [[FA Premier League Manager of the Month|Manager of the Month]] for August 1996. But the club failed to mount a serious title challenge and they faded away to finish seventh in the final table. Pleat was sacked the following November with the club struggling at the wrong end of the Premiership, and Ron Atkinson briefly returned to steer the Owls clear of relegation.

At the end of the 1997–98 season, Ron Atkinson's short-term contract was not renewed and Sheffield Wednesday turned to the [[Barnsley F.C.|Barnsley]] boss [[Danny Wilson (footballer, born 1960)|Danny Wilson]] as their new manager, after being rejected by both [[Gerard Houllier]] and [[Walter Smith]] who joined [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] and [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] respectively.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}} Wilson's first season at the helm brought a slight improvement as they finished 12th in the Premiership.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}}