Wilshere eyes first trophy in battle of Hatters

Luton's Jack Wilshere will take charge of just his 39th game as a senior manager in the EFL Trophy final at Wembley, while Stockport boss Dave Challinor will oversee the 605th of his career [Shutterstock/Getty Images]

Luton Town and Stockport County share the same Hatters nickname - but that might be where the similarities end for these two EFL Trophy finalists.

At least that is where any parallels stop when it comes to the opposing managers who will lead their sides out at Wembley on Sunday (kick-off 15:00 BST).

Luton boss Jack Wilshere is in his first full-time senior managerial job since leaving his Arsenal under-18 coaching role in October 2024 and has never been in charge of a final, let alone won a trophy as a manager.

Stockport boss Dave Challinor has been there and done it all before with five titles, three play-off final promotions and an FA Trophy on his CV across a 16-year career in the dugout.

Challinor, 50, most recently won the League Two title with Stockport in 2023-24 to follow on from National League success in 2021-22.

He faces 34-year-old former England international Wilshere, who oversaw two games as interim manager at Norwich at the end of last season before taking the job at Kenilworth Road in October 2025.

Sunday will present itself as a classic case of master v apprentice, you could say.

A proud moment - Wilshere

"It will be a really proud moment for me to lead this club out at Wembley because it's a big club that has had a tough few years," Wilshere told BBC Three Counties Radio.

"Obviously they were at Wembley a couple of years ago [in the Championship play-off final] and then I think before that it was 2009 with Mick Harford in this competition.

"To follow someone like that and lead the team out is amazing, it's something to look forward to."

Since a remarkable promotion to the Premier League in May 2023, Luton have suffered back-to-back relegations and are 10th in League One, three points behind the play-off spots.

However, Wilshere, who won two FA Cups in 2014 and 2015 as a player with Arsenal, said the EFL Trophy final will provide an opportunity to build confidence in the quest for an immediate return to the Championship.

"It's a step because we know there's more to do and there's still a big part of the season to play and we've still got ambition in the league," he said.

"This is still a work in progress but this is a big step to bringing the fans together. We're going to have 30-35,000 fans there, which is outstanding.

"It just shows you how much this club means to so many people and they've suffered the last few years and to win something would be amazing - a big step on the road to where we want to get to."

Luton beat Stockport 3-0 in November, while the two sides played out a 1-1 draw just three weeks ago, but Wilshere does not believe those results will feed into Sunday's encounter.

"There's a slightly different context because it goes into who manages to deal with the occasion, the environment better," he added. "Hopefully that will be us."

Luton were, of course, beaten by Swindon Town at the last 16 stage, only to be reinstated in the competition after the Robins were penalised for fielding two ineligible players in that game.

Challinor on verge of Stockport history

Should Stockport reign victorious on Sunday, Challinor would write himself into the club's history books.

County have never won the EFL Trophy, but have previously come up short on two occasions in successive seasons - in 1992 and 1993.

"When this competition starts, maybe the first thought isn't getting to a Wembley final but the further you progress that thing certainly enters your thinking," Challinor told BBC Radio Manchester.

"As much as we've been successful over the past few years, the opportunity to go and play at the home of English football on a national stage in terms of what the competition brings is one that we have to look forward to."

Challinor is the first manager in Stockport's history to take them to Wembley on more than one occasion.

He hopes, however, that their second trip to the national stadium is more prosperous than the last time, when they were beaten by Carlisle United on penalties in the 2023 League Two play-off final.

"Wembley never gets old or is something you don't want to experience. I went to the old Wembley as a player and I've gone to the new one four times as a manager," he added.

"I'll never lose sight of the fact that I am really lucky to do that. To go back there with this club is great and shows that we've been progressing and moving forward.

"The last one ended in disappointment and we'll go to right some wrongs, if you like. It's a brilliant occasion but you have to embrace it."

Challinor's managerial career is at a different point to that of Wilshere, who is still at the beginning of his coaching journey.

Despite this, the pair know each other having completed their coaching credentials together and Challinor says his counterpart knows what is expected of him.

"I know Jack, I did my Pro Licence with him. When players come down from the Championship and you don't have alignment and it takes you a while to get going and that's probably been the case. But they've had good runs throughout the season and they've got stacks of quality within their team," he said.

"We know it'll be really tough. We know we'll be outnumbered in terms of supporters but our supporters will certainly make themselves heard."