Blackburn Rovers have appointed John Eustace as their new head coach on a two-and-a-half year contract 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,” said a statement released on Friday evening. “The 44-year-old has signed a two-and-a-half year contract with the club and comes after a successful spell at Birmingham City.”
Eustace, who will be supported at his new club by his Birmingham assistant Matt Gardiner, said: “I am delighted to be the new head coach of such a fantastic football club like Blackburn Rovers, which has such a proud history and tradition.” the game. I’m looking forward to this new challenge in my career and can’t wait to get started.
While first-team coaches David Lowe and Damien Johnson will take charge of Saturday’s home Championship game against Stoke City, Eustace has confirmed he will be in attendance.
“I’m looking forward to being at Ewood Park tomorrow and meeting the fans who can play a big role for us between now and the end of the season,” Eustace added. “I will do my best to make sure the fans have a team they can be proud of and I hope that together we can quickly climb up the table.”
Eustace returns to the Championship management four months after being sacked by Birmingham City in October, when the club finished sixth in the table. His successor Wayne Rooney lasted just 83 days in the job before he was sacked and replaced by former Blackburn manager Tony Mowbray.
Under Tomasson, Rovers had slipped to 18th in the Championship and are now just five points clear of the relegation zone after failing to win any of their last eight league games.
The Dane remained popular with the board and fans, but became disillusioned with the Rovers hierarchy following transfer errors and growing financial questions for 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 resigned as head coach of Blackburn Rovers by mutual consent,” the club said in a statement.
“Tomasson arrived at Ewood Park in June 2022 on a three-year contract and brought with him an attacking style of football that took us close to a play-off place last season while also qualifying us for the latter stages of both domestic cup competitions.”
“However, it was mutually agreed that the Dane, together with assistant coach Remy Reijnierse, will resign from his position with immediate effect.”
Tomasson, a former Denmark, Newcastle and Milan striker, replaced Mowbray at Ewood Park after winning back-to-back league titles with Swedish club Malmo. He led Rovers to seventh place last season when they missed out on the promotion play-offs on goal difference.
