Bolton Wanderers manager Steven Schumacher is fully focused on securing promotion to the Championship as his side prepares to face Stockport County in the League One playoff final at Wembley on Sunday. The 40-year-old, who has previously guided Plymouth Argyle to the League One title, believes that returning Bolton to the second tier would be the greatest achievement of his managerial career.
Pressure and Expectation at Bolton
Schumacher, speaking exclusively to Mirror Football, acknowledged the weight of expectation at the Lancashire club. "We feel as though it's a club that's probably in the wrong division, and there's no denying that. I understood that from the moment I joined the club," he said. "When I went for the job interview, there was no denying it. I've coached against Bolton a number of times and I know the size of the club. The objective with the players from day one of pre-season was that we need to be in a position that gives us a chance to get promoted."
A victory this weekend would end Bolton's five-year stint in League One, a period that saw the club recover from administration and two previous playoff heartbreaks. Schumacher stressed that the scars of those dark days are behind them. "Since I've been here, I can honestly say I haven't felt that. I know this club went through really difficult times, and it wasn't long ago that it was right on the brink of going out of business. Thankfully, some really good ownership came in: Sharon Brittan and the Football Ventures group came in and got the investment that was required to keep the club afloat, and since that day seven years ago, I think it's gone from strength to strength."
Schumacher's Promotion Pedigree
Schumacher has a proven track record in winning promotions. As a player, he helped Bury and Fleetwood Town reach League One. In his first full season as manager at Plymouth Argyle, he led the club to a remarkable 101-point campaign, earning the League One Manager of the Season award. However, he believes that guiding Bolton to promotion would surpass those achievements. "I think it would be the biggest, no doubt. The other promotions I've had as a coach and a manager have come without expectation, without pressure. The year we won the league at Plymouth, nobody expected us to be there. The pressure wasn't really on us. But the pressure is on at this football club, and the fans demand that. I think it would definitely be the biggest achievement of my career so far."
His journey has not been without setbacks. After leaving Plymouth for Stoke City in December 2023, he was dismissed less than a year into his tenure. Despite that, Schumacher insists he has nothing to prove. "I think everything, as in life, everything happens for a reason. We worked incredibly hard at Plymouth Argyle to get to the Championship. I left halfway through the season when Argyle had a really good start. I chose to go to a club that I felt would give me an opportunity to help that club kick on and compete in the Championship. My first objective was to keep Stoke in the league, I did. But then I had only had five games the next season before I was moved on. But I wouldn't say I've got anything to prove. I know what my strengths are. My whole focus is that I'm now at a really good football club and want to get them back into the Championship."
Dreaming of Everton
Looking further ahead, Schumacher admitted that managing boyhood club Everton remains a dream. "I've gone on record before and said that would be my dream. Every young lad from Kirkby who's a Blue will say the same. Obviously that's a long way off. I've got a lot of work to do. A lot of promotions to get before I even get to that." A victory at Wembley this weekend would be a significant step in that direction.
Every Minute Matters Campaign
This weekend's playoff finals are also part of the Sky Bet and British Heart Foundation's Every Minute Matters campaign. Wembley Stadium's stands will be temporarily renamed to honour four football fans connected to extraordinary cardiac arrest and CPR stories. The campaign aims to encourage more people to learn lifesaving CPR skills. Since its launch in 2024, more than 520,000 people have started learning CPR through the BHF's free RevivR training tool.
