Blackburn appoint John Eustace as new head coach after Tomasson departs
Blackburn Rovers have appointed John Eustace as their new head coach on a two-and-a-half year deal, after Jon Dahl Tomasson left the club by mutual consent.
“Rovers are delighted to confirm the appointment of John Eustace as the club’s new head coach,” a statement released on Friday evening said. “The 44year-old has signed a two-and-a-halfyear deal at the club and arrives on the back of a successful spell at Birmingham City.”
Eustace, who will be joined at his new club by his assistant at Birmingham, Matt Gardiner, said: “I am delighted to be the new head coach of such a fantastic football club as Blackburn Rovers, which has such a proud history and tradition within the game. I am excited for this new challenge in my career and can’t wait to get started.
While the first-team coaches David Lowe and Damien Johnson will take charge of Saturday’s Championship home game against Stoke City, Eustace has confirmed he will be in attendance.
“I am looking forward to being at Ewood Park tomorrow and meeting the supporters, who can play a big part for us between now and the end of the season,” Eustace added. “I will give my all to ensure the fans have a team they can be proud of and, together, I hope we can quickly start climbing the table.”
Eustace returns to Championship management four months after being sacked by Birmingham City in October, when the club were sixth in the table. His successor, Wayne Rooney, lasted only 83 days before being dismissed and replaced by the former Blackburn manager Tony Mowbray.
Under Tomasson, Rovers had slipped to 18th in the Championship and are within five points of the relegation zone after failing to win any of their past eight league matches.
The Dane remained popular with the board and fans, but had grown disillusioned with the Rovers hierarchy after transfer blunders and growing financial questions for the club owner, Venky’s. His departure had become inevitable and was confirmed by Blackburn shortly before Eustace’s arrival was announced.
“Jon Dahl Tomasson has today left his position as Blackburn Rovers’ head coach by mutual consent,” a club statement said.
“Tomasson arrived at Ewood Park on a three-year contract in June 2022 and brought an attacking brand of football that saw us go close to a playoff spot last season, whilst also progressing to the latter stages of both domestic cup competitions.”
“However, it has been mutually agreed that the Dane will step away from his role, along with assistant coach Remy Reijnierse, with immediate effect.”
Tomasson, a former Denmark, Newcastle and Milan forward, replaced Mowbray at Ewood Park after winning back-to-back league titles with Swedish club Malmö. He guided Rovers to a seventh-placed finish last season, when they missed out on the promotion playoffs on goal difference.