Blackburn next manager: Former Rovers star in the running to replace Valerien Ismael

Blackburn Rovers fans may be surprised to see a certain name in the latest bookmakers’ odds to succeed Valerien Ismael as their manager if he is sacked soon.

Ismael was appointed as Blackburn’s new boss last February to replace John Eustace after his shock departure to take the Derby County job.

They were sixth in the Championship when he took over, but ended up missing out on a playoff spot in seventh place, while they have struggled to reach such heights so far this term.

Rovers are embroiled in a relegation battle as it stands, with just one point between them and 22nd-placed Norwich City following a run of six games without a win.

Ismael is the third-favourite among Championship bosses to be sacked next, with a surprise name on the list of contenders to replace him at Ewood Park.

Phil Jones is in the running to replace Ismael at Blackburn

Former England defender Jones was a product of Blackburn’s academy, and he made 40 appearances for the club between 2009 and 2011 before a move to Man United.

Jones featured 229 times for the Red Devils over the next 13 years before his August 2024 retirement, and he has since coached their youth sides and expressed a desire to move into senior football management.

The 33-year-old stated last year on the No Tippy Tappy Football Podcast that he would “love to” manage Blackburn, but admitted he had “a long way to go” to get to such a stage in his career.

With uncertainty now looming around Ismael’s future, Jones has been priced at odds of 14/1 to be the next manager of his boyhood club.

Who else is in contention to replace Ismael at Ewood Park?

Jones is believed to be in the running to take over if Ismael is dismissed, but numerous other, more established managers are ahead of him in the latest odds.

Former Rovers star Damien Duff has been installed as the favourite to succeed Ismael, at odds of 4/1, after he left Shelbourne last June despite leading them to the League of Ireland Premier Division title.

Ex-Blackburn boss Tony Mowbray is the second favourite at odds of 6/1, with David Wagner next up in the running at 8/1.

Lee Carsley and David Lowe sit ahead of Jones at odds of 10 and 12/1 respectively, while another former manager in Jon Dahl Tomasson is priced at the same 14/1 odds as the ex-England man.

The post Blackburn next manager: Former Rovers star in the running to replace Valerien Ismael appeared first on Football Insider.