Richard Mark Wood (born 5 July 1985) is an English retired professional footballer who played as a defender. He is currently a first-team coach at Rotherham United.
Club career Sheffield Wednesday Born in Ossett, West Yorkshire, Wood was a Leeds United fan and had a season ticket at Leeds, however Wood came up through the ranks at Sheffield Wednesday and started to support The Owls instead. He broke into the senior side at the end of the 2002–03 season and capped his superb performance with a goal on his full debut against Burnley. The young Wood made such an impression that he was handed a two-year deal before he completed the second year of his Academy scholarship.
He formed a partnership with Graham Coughlan in the centre of defence and has put in a series of strong displays.
Wood staked his claim for a regular spot as he missed just one of the final 28 games as Wednesday clinched promotion to the Championship the previous season.
He enjoyed a lengthy run in the 2005–06 season before an untimely injury cut short his season, which also deprived him of making an appearance for the Football League Select XI against an Italian Serie B representative side. He was rewarded by receiving the Rhodes Fairbanks Young player of the year award by fans of the club.
On 3 March 2007, Wood returned from his injury to make his first start for Wednesday in 11 months in a 3–2 league win against Yorkshire rivals Leeds United at Elland Road. He would go on to start in the rest of Wednesday's 11 games that season and helped them to finish the season with just one loss from 13 games – a run which almost saw the side finish in the Championship play-offs.
Prior to the 2008–09 season Wood was named joint captain alongside Steve Watson, although shortly after the season began Wood handed in a transfer request. The request was declined.
In the 2009–10 campaign, after a successful start for Wood, scoring two goals in two matches, he declined a new contract with Wednesday, and he was transfer listed on 29 October 2009.
Coventry City On 18 November 2009, Wood signed for Coventry City on loan until January 2010, when he was then expected to sign a permanent deal. He made his debut in a 1–1 draw with Crystal Palace on 21 November 2009. He then got his first goal for the Sky Blues the following game with the equaliser against Derby County. On 6 December Wood even captained Coventry in a 1–0 loss to Scunthorpe United. After four starts and one substitute appearance, Wood made the move permanent signing on a contract till 2013 on 1 January 2010. On 27 March 2010, Wood scored the equaliser for Coventry in a match against his former club, Sheffield Wednesday. He was also named as captain in this game which finished 1–1.
Charlton Athletic On 18 July 2013, Wood signed a one-year deal with Charlton Athletic.
Rotherham United On 26 June 2014, Wood signed with Rotherham United. On 20 February 2015, Wood signed a one-month loan deal with Crawley Town.
On 23 September 2015, Wood signed a one-month loan deal with Fleetwood Town.
On 26 October 2015, he signed for Chesterfield on a three-month loan deal.
Wood scored his first goal after his return to Rotherham in a 3–1 defeat to Preston North End on 5 November 2016.
Following the departure of Paul Warne as Rotherham United's manager in September 2022, Wood was installed as caretaker manager along with Lee Peltier as the club searched for a permanent option. The duo of Wood and Peltier oversaw one game as co-caretakers, a 2–0 home loss to Wigan Athletic, before the appointment of Matt Taylor from Exeter City.
After the final game of the 2022–23 season, manager Matt Taylor confirmed in a post-match interview that Wood would not be offered a new contract with the club and would be released.
Doncaster Rovers On 23 May 2023, Wood signed a one-year contract with Doncaster Rovers. He was recruited by manager Grant McCann for his experience and leadership qualities, joining the club ahead of the 2023–24 EFL League Two season.
On 3 May 2025, Doncaster secured the League Two title on the final day of the season, earning automatic promotion to EFL League One. The championship success marked the first time in Wood’s professional career that he finished top of a league table, resulting in his first winners’ medal, despite having previously achieved multiple promotions at other clubs.
On 7 May 2025, Wood announced his retirement from football due to a persistent ankle injury.
International career While playing for Sheffield Wednesday, Wood received a call up from the England national under-21 football team however injury prevented him from meeting up with the squad.
Coaching career On 20 May 2025, Wood returned to Rotherham United as first-team coach.
Personal life His younger brother, Nick Wood, played in the Sheffield Wednesday academy until the end of the 2009–10 season. He subsequently played a few games for Tranmere Rovers and Mansfield Town.
He studied for a degree in Professional Sports Writing and Broadcasting at Staffordshire University.
Career statistics
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsSheffield Wednesday2002–03Division One31000000312003–04Division Two1201011301712004–05League One3711000003812005–06Championship3011020003312006–07Championship1201000001302007–08Championship2720030003022008–09Championship4201010004402009–10Championship112000000112Total17475071301898Coventry City (loan)2009–10Championship5100000051Coventry City2009–10Championship1922000002122010–11Championship4012110004322011–12Championship1711010001912012–13League One363202060463Total11277140601298Charlton Athletic2013–14Championship210302000260Rotherham United2014–15Championship60002000802015–16Championship1300000001302016–17Championship2921010003122017–18League One3641010434272018–19Championship2621000002722019–20League One2332021102842020–21Championship3021010003222021–22League One3913000304512022–23Championship284101000304Total23018100818325622Crawley Town (loan)2014–15League One103000000103Fleetwood Town (loan)2015–16League One6000001070Chesterfield (loan)2015–16League One5020000070Doncaster Rovers2023–24League Two2701000303002024–25League Two8000000080Total330100030380Career total5933628121221366742
Honours Sheffield Wednesday Football League One play-offs: 2005
Rotherham United EFL League One second-place promotion: 2019–20, 2021–22; play-offs: 2018 EFL Trophy: 2021–22
Doncaster Rovers EFL League Two: 2024–25
References
External links