Blackburn to appoint ex-Newcastle, Feyenoord, AC Milan player as new manager

Blackburn Rovers are expected to appoint ex-Newcastle, Feyenoord, AC Milan player Jon Dahl Tomasson as their new manager this week.

Tomasson, who recently left the managers job at Swedish club Malmo, is waiting for a work permit before taking up the role, with an announced expected in the next 48 hours.

The Lancashire outfit’s players are expected to return to pre-season testing on Monday, ready to start life without Tony Mowbray.

Reports suggest Blackburn are close to appointing former Newcastle striker Jon Dahl Tomasson as their new manager #CapitalReports pic.twitter.com/uVaXv8BFDw

— Capital North West News (@CapitalNWNews) June 13, 2022

Rovers finished their interview process last week, with evaluations and the preferred candidate sent to the owners for their approval, report Lancashire Telegraph.

That is understood to have now been rubber-stamped by Venky’s with an appointment to be made official.

Jon Dahl Tomasson, 45, has been out of work since departing Malmo in January, emerged as the leading contender for the role last weekend.

He guided Malmo to back-to-back Swedish league titles, but made the decision to exit in January after two years in charge.

Reports in Tomasson’s homeland Denmark say he has been offered a three-year deal by the Championship club.

Official contracts are understood to have been drawn up and in the process of being finalised, then an appointment should be made by Wednesday at the latest.

Tomasson would need to acquire a work permit, though, it is understood that should be a simple process and won’t see any long delays which could see him lead training in the coming days.

This brings an end to Blackburn’s month-long search, with pre-season beginning fully on the 20th of June, and the squad are due to spend time away from Brockhall training base ahead of the first friendly at Accrington Stanley on the 9th of July.

Interviews with at least 8 different candidates were held over a 10-day period in May, with the number extending from an original five due to late interest in the job.

There were then at around 3 more candidates interviewed, with the club’s search for Mowbray’s replacement coming to an end.

It will be the eighth appointment of Venky’s tenure, and first since Mowbray took charge in February 2017.

Jon Dahl Tomasson’s career

Youth career
1984–1985 – Solrød FC
1985–1992 – Køge

Senior career
1992–1994 – Køge – 48 games (28 goals)
1994–1997 – Heerenveen – 78 games (37 goals)
1997–1998 – Newcastle United – 23 games (3 goals)
1998–2002 – Feyenoord – 122 games (55 goals)
2002–2005 – AC Milan – 76 games (22 goals)
2005–2007 – VfB Stuttgart – 30 games (8 goals)
2007–2008 – Villarreal – 36 games (7 goals)
2008–2011 – Feyenoord – 37 games (20 goals)
Total – 450 games (180 goals)

National team
1992 – Denmark U16 3 games (2 goals)
1992 – Denmark U17 8 games (8 goals)
1993–1995 – Denmark U19 16 games (12 goals)
1995–1997 – Denmark U21 10 games (5 goals)
1996 – Denmark B 1 game (0 goals)
1997–2010 – Denmark 112 games (51 goals)

Managerial career

Excelsior – 17 June 2013 until 3 January 2014 – 25 games, 10 wins, 9 draws, 6 defeats, 37 GF, 29 GA, +8 GD, 40.00 win %
Roda – 3 January 2014 until 26 May 2014 – 17 games, 3 wins, 2 draws, 12 defeats, 14 GF, 30 GA, −16 GD, 17.65 win %
Malmö – 5 January 2020 until 30 December 2021 – 93 games, 52 wins, 21 draws, 20 defeats, 187 GF, 104 GA, +83 GD, 55.91 win %
Total – 135 games, 65 wins, 32 draws, 38 defeats, 238 goals for, 163 goals against, +75 GD, 48.15 win %

Honours

Player
Feyenoord
Eredivisie: 1998–99
Johan Cruijff Shield: 1999
UEFA Cup: 2001–02

A.C. Milan
Serie A: 2003–04
Coppa Italia: 2002–03
Supercoppa Italiana: 2004
UEFA Champions League: 2002–03
UEFA Super Cup: 2003

Individual
1994 Danish U19 Player of the Year
1996 Dutch Football Talent of the Year
2002 World Cup Bronze shoe (4 goals)
2002 Danish Player of the Year
2004 UEFA Euro All-Star Team
2004 Danish Player of the Year
1994 top-scorer of the Danish 2nd Division (23 goals) and Køge BK (27 goals)
1995–96 top-scorer of SC Heerenveen (14 goals)
1996–97 top-scorer of SC Heerenveen (24 goals)
2000–01 top-scorer of Feyenoord (17 goals)
2005–06 top-scorer of VfB Stuttgart (11 goals)
2009–10 top-scorer of Feyenoord (12 goals)

Manager
Malmö FF
Allsvenskan: 2020, 2021
Allsvenskan Manager of the Year: 2020

Fans reacted with Blackburn to appoint ex-Newcastle, Feyenoord, AC Milan player Jon Dahl Tomasson as new manager…

@mathewgrtid: Worth a punt as much as everyone else. Other championship teams are going for young up and coming managers so why not us #Rovers

@aidymartin86: I am excited for the prospect of JDT I just hope its not all smoke and mirrors and we are left wondering what if.

@Joe_frozenlegs: Think has a decent reputation back 2 back leagues CL group stage etc. Think him and and the new dof being aware of Scandinavia could play into our hands similarly to how Brentford utilised it.

@GiallorossiBlue: We’ve tried British managers for the last 10 years, can we really say that has worked? Maybe it’s about time we appointed our second non British manager. He will come with fresh ideas and a fresh perspective, and will likely have a good level of knowledge of continental players.

@lukepaul123: Excited to see what JDT can bring to #rovers this season. Will need to get a few in the doors to beef up the squad but we have gems in the U23s which will make it easier!

@MiddyMiddlehurs: JDT hasn’t even been announced or started yet and already some rovers fans have written the season off!! GIVE THE GUY A FUCKING CHANCE!! #Rovers

@oliwrath: burnley v blackburn being managed by vincent kompany and jon dahl tomasson is sumptuous FM

@SMMiller14: Here’s to you Jon Dahl Tomasson 🎶

@JoeAinscough92: Better than some of the other gambles, good pedigree within the game. Although after a 6-8 week search it seems a bit underwhelming.

@mattieshaw97: Happy, recruitment essential. Has experience at a high level, having coached with the Danish national side and the champions league with Malmö. Feels like there’s a vision for once of where we want to go.

@CharlieVoorhee3: Decent he seems to be a good manager just hope some of our fans don’t diss him before he’s even started

@Joe_frozenlegs: Think he has very decent pedigree and will offer a change that some have called for and feel he’s a good option and will have an awareness of a different European market to utilise along with the new Dof exciting times.

@brian__oneill: Welcome the careful process, this is a quite critical appointment given our very low revenue, the rigged system of FFP restrictions combined with competing with parachute money. Any new manager needs to nurture our Cat 1 Academy talent as that is our future to increase revenue.

@BenHeywoodArt: Refreshing change

@RajRajgor12: It would be very different to Mowbray and considering the appointment DOF I think his job would be more of an coaching and bringing up and developing academy players in first team squad. Maybe some new methods will be introduced as he comes from different background.

@mattm00n: Quite a few positives. Only real knock is a lack of Championship experience. Sounds like he has strong ideas about developing young players which hopefully will mesh with Broughton (I assume they must). At this point, I’m feeling optimistic he’s a good fit.

@C_Leafhill: Young, refreshing appointment! I’d be carefully optimistic.

@j_marsh98: I’m intrigued by this appointment. Seems like we are taking a similar route to Brighton and Brentford. Did well with Malmo and being Denmarks assistant manager is never an easy job.

@Ewood_Blue_: He will have my backing and no doubt he will have fresh ideas and hopefully he will get the best out of the players and we can challenge for the play offs and the owners give him time

@Jameswhincup: I think it’s exciting outside of the box thinking for once and lines up well with the new DOF and that model! Joined up thinking for once!Would much rather this then cycle through the usual suspects with ‘championship’ experience like Warburton, Hughton etc as we have in the past

@ChrisLindop6: Really impressive appointment following the Director of Football. Both mens approaches are exactly the blue print Rovers need to follow as a club! Much better than some of the ‘bigger’ names suggested for the job. This is a big appointment, so I’m glad we didn’t rush into it 🙌🏻🤞🏻

@gforce4lyfe: Beat the Europa League finalists in Champions League qualifying last summer. Proves there is some quality management skills there, just need to smooth the edges and he could do well if the owners back him. We may need some patience for that to happen no matter who is announced.

@garrymollart: Some experience compared some of the names linked. Not too clued up on Swedish domestic football though so not sure if winning the title with Malmo two years in row is impressive or expected? Still if appointed he will have my backing.