Michael Duff appointed Bradford City manager to replace Graham Alexander

Bradford City have appointed Michael Duff as their new manager, replacing Graham Alexander who left for Preston North End. The 48-year-old has signed a contract running until the end of the 2029-30 campaign, with the club citing a shared vision and continuity as the key reasons for his selection.

CEO Ryan Sparks confirmed the appointment, stating the club believes Duff is an excellent fit. "We believe Michael is an excellent fit for our football club and everyone is looking forward to working with him," Sparks said. Duff himself emphasised the importance of maintaining the existing framework. "After the interviews with Ryan, David and Stephen, it was clear we have similar visions on how football should be played," the new manager explained. "The style of play has already been built here."

Duff’s managerial background

Michael Duff returns to Yorkshire for a third managerial stint, having previously been in charge at Barnsley and Huddersfield Town. His time at Oakwell was notably successful, guiding Barnsley to the League One play-off final in the 2022-23 season. He joins City after leaving Wycombe Wanderers last month, just short of his first anniversary in charge at Adams Park. His most recent role in the region ended when he was sacked by Huddersfield Town in March 2025.

Taking over a high-flying side

Duff inherits a team sitting second in League One with 16 points from eight matches. The Bantams are unbeaten in their last five league games, a run that includes four wins and a draw. Their most recent result was a 1-1 draw away at Reading, with Jake Beesley scoring an early goal. This strong start provides a solid platform for the new boss, who described the opportunity as exciting. "It is exciting to be here," Duff said. "The move has happened quite quickly and with where the club is sitting now and taking over from someone who I know and respect a lot, this is a great opportunity."

His first task will be to oversee training later this week. Assistant Mark Trueman will take charge of tonight's EFL Trophy tie at Rotherham United, as Duff serves a pre-existing one-match touchline ban. The new manager's first league game in the dugout will be at Valley Parade against Leyton Orient on October 10. Duff, a former team-mate of Graham Alexander at Burnley, aims to build on the extensive pre-season work already done by the squad.

Bradford City's next fixture is at home to Leyton Orient on Saturday, October 10.

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