Valerian Ismael speaks for first time as new Blackburn head coach

Valerian Ismael speaks for first time as new Blackburn Rovers head coach, as the permanent replacement for John Eustace.

The board interviewed a number of applicants since Eustace’s departure for Derby earlier this month. Blackburn currently 6th in the Championship with 51 points from 34 games played.

The former Barnsley, West Brom and Watford boss is expected to take charge against 10th place Norwich on Saturday afternoon.

Bienvenue, Gaffer 🫡#Rovers 🔵⚪️ pic.twitter.com/gG0ThkvUH8

— Blackburn Rovers (@Rovers) February 25, 2025

✍️ We are delighted to announce the appointment of Valérien Ismaël as our new Head Coach.

The Frenchman has signed a long-term contract with the club through to June 2028 and will be in the dugout at Ewood Park for the first time on Saturday.#Rovers 🔵⚪️

— Blackburn Rovers (@Rovers) February 25, 2025

STATEMENT:

Blackburn Rovers are delighted to announce the appointment of Valérien Ismaël as our new Head Coach.

The Frenchman has signed a long-term contract with the club through to June 2028 and will be in the dugout at Ewood Park for the first time when we host Norwich City on Saturday (kick-off 12.30pm).

Ismaël arrives at Rovers with vast managerial experience, both in England and across Europe, and with an established reputation as a high-calibre coach, fuelled by his core principles of respect, discipline, commitment and hard work.

A defender in his playing days, Ismaël started out with his hometown team Strasbourg, before representing Crystal Palace, Lens, Strasbourg again, Werder Bremen, Bayern Munich and Hannover, winning numerous titles across a decorated 15-year career, including the league and cup double in Germany with two different clubs.

After retiring at Hannover, the former France Under-21 international moved into management with the German outfit’s second team, prior to successful spells with FC Nürnberg and VfL Wolfsburg.

Spells in Greece and Austria followed, with Apollon Smyrnis and LASK, who he guided to a first ever appearance in the Champions League play-offs, as well as the group stages of the Europa League, before Ismaël made the move to England to take charge of Barnsley in October 2020.

Just outside the relegation positions when he arrived, he led the Tykes to the Championship play-offs in his first season, with current Rovers duo Callum Brittain and Cauley Woodrow playing key roles in Barnsley’s success.

The 49-year-old has gained further Championship experience with West Bromwich Albion and Watford, along with a spell at Turkish top-flight club Beşiktaş, and now arrives at Ewood Park as the first French head coach in our history.

“It feels very good for me to be here at Blackburn Rovers,” he said to RoversTV after agreeing a contract until the summer of 2028.

“Since my childhood, Blackburn Rovers has been a big name. I started by career with Strasbourg in 1994-95 and that was also the season that Rovers won the Premier League.

“To be the Head Coach of the club is something special for me.

“It’s a club I’ve come up against a lot in games in the Championship and it’s always been a special name for me because that year was a very important year with Rovers winning the Premier League combined with memories with me.

“When you are a young player, you look at English football and Italian football, which was the same for me as a manager and a player. English football is something special for me, it’s something different, it feels different and the energy is different. I love it!

“Speaking to the board, we spoke about the short-term focus but the long-term focus at the same time.

“We spoke about the clear vision, how we want to play, the way we want to intigrate the young players and have that Rovers identity.

“I’m very delighted to be back and ready to start with Rovers.”

Rovers’ Chief Executive Steve Waggott said: “I am delighted to welcome Valérien to the club.

“We were hugely impressed with Valérien throughout what was a rigorous recruitment process.

“He knows the Championship extremely well and what it takes to finish in the play-offs.

“He has played and managed in some of the biggest environments across Europe, and has all the credentials to have a successful spell with us over the coming years.

“We must also say a big thank you to David Lowe, Damien Johnson, Ben Benson, Mike Sheron and Paul Butler for all their support during the interim period and they will form part of Valérien’s backroom staff at the Senior Training Centre going forward.”

Here’s how fans reacted as Valerian Ismael speaks for first time as new Blackburn head coach…

@ReportRovers: Clubs let us down once again.. Bringing in a manager who has never survived over a year at any club and has already failed multiple times in England. Shows clear lack of ambition, poor replacement. #Rovers

@GalDavies1986: Dream opportunity for any hungry manager and I’m actually pretty upbeat about Ismaël. Fingers crossed we can do this #Rovers

@miggybrfc: Uninspiring but I hope he does well given the constraints he will be working under.

@adi2scoops: Looking at the results and durations of previous tenures, it doesn’t look that good of an appointment on paper.

@ArteEtLabore90: People writing ismael off before he’s even had one game as manager. Nobody was happy when Mowbray came in eustace came in… get behind him you never know might turn out to be a cracking manager for us 🔵⚪️ #rovers

@callumm_7: Ohhhhhh ismael went to Europe to buy a brand new polo, but then he came to brockhall and saw Augustus kargbo, he can score them with his left foot, he can score them with his right, and when he beats his man again, we’ll sing this song all night

@AIsherwood95: I admit i feel Ismael is an underwhelming appointment, BUT people are writing him off before he’s even walked through the door! For all we know he could do well for us! He and the team need our full support! The next 12 games are huge! Give him a chance! Let’s back them! #Rovers

@NicktheHornet: Valball quickly turned in to Dullball when he was with us. Good luck!

@Nick_wba_70: Good luck you will need it he’s dogshit

@GiallorossiBlue: Welcome Valerien! He may not have been who many of us wanted, but I’m sure he will have the full support of our entire fanbase. A new manager bounce, plus from what WBA fans said about him he will start very well, those things combined will hopefully take us to the playoffs!

@LiamOzzy89: You won me with the badge stroke

@benshlrz: Not really sure how I feel to be honest, either way I’ll get behind him and hopefully we can keep pushing for those playoff spots.

@charliebakers13: If he embraces who he is and forgets about what he was trying to do at Watford then there is a fantastic coach there

@allrovers_: Our gaffer, 12 massive games! Get behind him and the team, this is our season… 💙

@Coreybrfc: Wouldn’t have been my choice but got to back him 🫡 Up the baguettes 🔵⚪️

@ChrisBRFC91: Welcome to the club 🔵⚪️ let’s give him our backing 💯

@Elliottkinsella: Welcome to the club 50/50 on this one huge task to keep us in top 6 which will unfortunately determine his outcome. Get behind him on Saturday 👊 #Rovers

@bav_aled: Short term, it’s all about giving these players a shot in the arm to hopefully finish top 6. Longer term, addressing the contracts running down & adapting our style to remain competitive. He deserves our support regardless of who anyone wanted. Welcome Valerien! #rovers