Blackburn Rovers Dismiss Valerien Ismael Following Poor Run
Blackburn Rovers have relieved head coach Valerien Ismael of his duties after the team endured an eight-game winless streak in the league, which has left the club in the relegation zone of the Championship.
The 50-year-old coach was appointed in February 2025, succeeding John Eustace who departed Ewood Park to take the managerial role at Derby County.
During his tenure, Ismael guided Blackburn to a seventh-place finish last season, narrowly missing the play-offs by two points. However, the current season has seen the club struggle significantly.
To date, Blackburn have secured only seven league victories this season and have managed just one win in their last 15 matches across all competitions.
The club released an official statement confirming that Ismael would leave by "mutual consent" with immediate effect, and assistant coach Dean Whitehead will also depart.
"Blackburn Rovers would like to thank Valérien and Dean for their efforts during their time at the club and wish them both the very best for the future," the statement read.
"The club will now begin the process of appointing a new head coach and will make no further comment until an appointment is confirmed."
A 1-0 home defeat to Hull City on Saturday left Blackburn three points adrift of safety, occupying the 22nd position, which is the final relegation spot, and this loss proved to be the decisive factor in the decision to part ways with Ismael.
Since their promotion from League One in the 2017-18 season, Blackburn have maintained their Championship status. The club has twice finished seventh in the Championship but has yet to mount a serious challenge for promotion back to the Premier League since their relegation in 2012.
Analysis by BBC Radio Lancashire's Andy Bayes
Announcing the departure of a head coach just five hours before the transfer window closes is unusual, but Blackburn Rovers' executives likely felt compelled to act following their eighth home defeat of the season on Saturday.
In a conversation with Valerien Ismael after the loss to Hull City, he acknowledged the poor record and expressed doubts about his ability to reverse the team's fortunes after a run of one win in 15 games across all competitions.
During his tenure of less than a year, Ismael won 11 of 43 games, a win percentage that invited scrutiny.
The squad has undergone significant changes under his leadership. Experienced Championship players have been replaced by those with limited or no experience at this level. Some players have adapted well, while others have struggled. This overhaul was a strategic decision made above Ismael, acknowledged as a risk in September.
Only Adam Forshaw and Todd Cantwell started both Ismael's first and last games in charge.
Ismael inherited a team sitting sixth in the Championship but ultimately failed to secure a play-off spot after five consecutive defeats near the end of the previous season. Despite four wins and a draw in the final five matches, the team fell short, and the fanbase remained somewhat unconvinced.
This season, a promising run of four wins in five games during October and November suggested progress, but Ismael managed only one additional victory thereafter.
Injuries severely impacted the squad, with double-digit absences for extended periods; for example, 14 players were unavailable for the recent match at Swansea.
Ismael maintained confidence that results would improve once injuries subsided, but time was limited to achieve this turnaround.
He admitted before Christmas that managing Blackburn was the most challenging experience of his career, markedly different from previous roles.
"Managing Rovers was the most challenging experience of my career, completely different from what I had experienced before," Ismael said.
The appointment of his successor will be a significant decision, with maintaining Championship status being a critical priority for the club.
