Premier League-winner installed as favourite to take over Championship club amid sack news

Valerien Ismael is under massive pressure at Blackburn Rovers amid a long string of disappointing results.

After an eighth consecutive game across all competitions without victory, Ismael is the bookies’ favourite to be sacked next in the Championship.

The Frenchman’s side are 22nd in the league, and strong contenders to be relegated with Sheffield Wednesday at the end of the season.

Leicester City sacked Marti Cifuentes last week, with more managers expected to follow the Spaniard to the chopping block this season.

Ismael could be sacked soon by Blackburn to join him, although the 50-year-old will hope to lead his team against Sheffield Wednesday on Tuesday.

Damien Duff leads race to replace Valerien Ismael

Damien Duff’s senior career began with Blackburn in 1997, when he made his senior debut against Leicester.

Across the next seven years, the Irishman would make 220 appearances for Rovers, scoring 36 goals and providing six assists.

In 2003, Chelsea triggered a release clause in the winger’s contract and signed him for a fee worth around £17million.

Duff won the Premier League twice at Stamford Bridge, eventually calling time on his career in 2015 after stints with Newcastle United, Fulham, Melbourne City and Shamrock Rovers.

The 46-year-old’s first managerial role, with Irish club Shelbourne, began in 2021 and ended unexpectedly in June last year.

Duff guided the League of Ireland Premier Division side to the title for the first time since 2006 in 2024, but suddenly stepped down before the start of the club’s Champions League qualifying campaign.

Whether the former Ireland international will soon return to management remains unclear, but he has been named the favourite for the Blackburn job at 3/1 by one major bookmaker, should Ismael depart.

Tony Mowbray (11/2) and David Wagner (8/1) also appear among the favourites to take over the Championship club.

What Duff said after leaving Blackburn Rovers

Duff is remembered fondly at Ewood Park, namely for the 2002-03 season that saw the winger score nine Premier League goals as Blackburn finished sixth.

The Irishman’s exit was felt hard, but he had secured the club a respectable fee in his exit.

“This was the hardest decision of my life and I was gutted to leave Blackburn,” Duff said after signing for Chelsea.

“I had seven great years at Blackburn and there was no big reason to go, it was just a big challenge,” he added.

Duff could now be set to finally stage his return to Ewood Park, with his former club in need of assistance.

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