Blackburn’s new head coach gives first interview and reveals his plan for club

Blackburn’s new head coach Jon Dahl Tomasson gives his first interview and reveals his plan for club as he signs a deal until 2025.

Tomasson had most recently been manager at Malmo in Sweden where he won the league twice and is now hoping to get Rovers back into the Premier League.

The former Newcastle striker comes in to replace Tony Mowbray whose contract was not renewed at the end of the season after five years at the club.

✍️ We are delighted to announce the appointment of Jon Dahl Tomasson as our new Head Coach.

👋 Velkommen, Jon!

🔗 Read more: https://t.co/02d4lBfwGl#Rovers 🔵⚪️ pic.twitter.com/cQ4d0Wt0yQ

— Blackburn Rovers (@Rovers) June 14, 2022

CLUB STATEMENT:

Rovers are delighted to announce the appointment of Jon Dahl Tomasson as our new Head Coach on a contract through to June 2025.

After an exhaustive selection process over recent weeks, which included first and second stage interviews with the shortlisted candidates, Jon became the club’s preferred choice and arrives at Rovers having led Swedish side Malmo FF to back-to-back league titles.

The 45-year-old will be joined at Ewood Park by new assistant coach Remy Reijnierse and performance director Ben Rosen, who will work closely with coaches David Lowe, Damien Johnson and Ben Benson.

In an illustrious playing career, the former Denmark international represented Heerenveen, Newcastle United, Feyenoord, AC Milan, VfB Stuttgart and Villarreal, and scored a record 52 goals in 112 caps for his country.

After moving into coaching upon retiring in 2011, he had brief spells as head coach of Dutch clubs Excelsior and Roda JC, before taking up assistant manager roles with Vitesse Arnhem and the Denmark national team.

Jon was appointed manager of Malmo FF in January 2020 and during a two-year period in charge, he led the Swedish club to successive Allsvenskan league titles, as well as to the group stages of the Champions League.

Rovers CEO Steve Waggott said: “It has been a long process, but we are really pleased to have eventually secured the services of such a young and ambitious coach in Jon.

“His work around developing players, along with demanding a culture of giving everything to the club, is exactly what we need at this juncture.

“His passion, purpose and humility shone through in his interviews and we obviously have high hopes that he will build on the platform that has been established over the last five years.

“Jon will work closely with Gregg Broughton, myself and the Board in what we all hope will be an exciting chapter in the club’s history.”

Rovers’ Director of Football, Gregg Broughton, added: “In Jon Dahl Thomasson, we have been able to recruit a Head Coach who fits perfectly with the direction that Blackburn Rovers wants to go in. Whilst considering how we want to build the club, how we want our teams to play and how we want to recruit and develop players, Jon was the standout candidate.

“As a coach with the Danish national team, he was part of a team that were unbeaten for two years and then as Head Coach of Malmo, Jon led the club to successive league titles and became only the fourth Swedish team this century to qualify for the groups stages of the Champions League. This on-field success was achieved whilst playing an aggressive, offensive style of football, giving young players opportunities and building clear development frameworks for players.

“It was a long and thorough process, involving lots of research and background checks, and we would like to thank all of the supporters, players and staff for their patience during this period. We are excited about developing the Owners’ vision on the pitch and we look forward to building on the solid foundations laid by Tony Mowbray.”

Jon Dahl Tomasson said: “I’m really proud and excited to be taking over as Head Coach of Blackburn Rovers – a club with a lot of tradition and also great ambition.

“We have a young team here, and also a great Academy, and the Owners have a clear vision, which is to develop players and become a sustainable Premier League club over time, so I’m really happy to be involved in this exciting new chapter for the club.

“Since leaving Malmo, I have been looking for the right club and I had a lot of options, but after speaking to Steve and Gregg I got a really good feeling about the club and I knew that I had found my next opportunity.

“I grew up watching English football, so I know all about the passion for football here and how special football fans are in England, so it’s great to come to such a big club as Blackburn Rovers and to be involved with such passionate fans and in a really good league, which the Championship is. It will be a great challenge, but it’s something I’m really looking forward to being a part of.

“For a Head Coach, the best thing is to work with the players and the staff, to show a direction and to work together to create an environment for the staff and the players to be successful, because at the end of the day it’s about being successful, winning as many games as possible and also develop the players, the team and the club in a positive direction.”

Jon and Remy will officially take up their new roles with the club over the coming days, once international clearance and their UK work permit applications have been approved.

Fans reacted as Blackburn’s new head coach gives his first interview and reveals his plan for the club…

@_Aaron_Holt_01: He’s here… and he is sexy

@RoversTil1die: Yessssssssss!!!! Here’s to you Jon Dahl Tomasson, Rovers love you more than you will knowww, whoa, whoa, whoa 🎶🎶🎶

@jackw209: Premier league bound

@FFP83:
Joooooooooooonnnnnnnnn
Daaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhlllllllll
Tomasson
Ooooooohhhhh aaaaaaaahhhhh
I wanna knooooooooooooooooow
If you’ll take us up

@Ewood_Elaine06: A very warm welcome to #Rovers and looking forward to meeting you next season, Jon! JDT’s blue and white army 🔵⚪🌹

@TheAccrington: First time I feel confident about the new season for many a year!

@Elliottkinsella: JDT Blue and white army! Looking forward to seeing what he can do. #Rovers

@laytum17:
Jon Dahl is our king
EIEIEIO #rovers

@Ian_Austin_: Be interesting to see what budget JDT is given…. he will have a few connections around Europe! #rovers

@bav_aled: A shame it took this long, but an interesting appointment that gets my support. Hopefully will join up well Gregg Broughton & continue the good work invested by TM. With lots to sort on the pitch, we might have to accept a season of transition. Let’s be patient! #Rovers

@ChrisMartin_93: I’m not gonna pretend I’ve ever followed Tomasson’s managerial career. But from what I’ve seen and heard, he’s a young coach with fresh ideas who seems to want to play nice attacking football. And he did a good job at Malmö. I’m happy with this appointment! #Rovers

@MarkWhittle1: JDT confirmed. 🇩🇰 Velkommen Jon, let’s get behind him and give him our full support. An new era has begun at #Rovers

@Ginaaar7: The scenes when Jon Dahl Tomasson subs himself on when #Rovers are in need of a late winner 👀 not a bad striking option to have on the bench 😆⚽️

@beng6578: Bold move by the club. Every appointment has its risk. Need 8 players in for me. Whether we keep BB for another year to get us goals or cash in him and back JDT is the question. @Rovers I want to see some Blue & White Viking Helmets in the club shop. #Rovers

@rowanbrfc: Finally, now sort these season ticket prices out and get punters down ewood again!!

@GiallorossiBlue: I’m excited by this. For the past decade we have had British managers with no fresh ideas, has it worked out? It’s about time we tried outside the box thinking. Tomasson will bring a fresh perspective, and good knowledge of the continental game. Welcome aboard, JDT.

@OliverOrnets: How on earth have Blackburn done that??? Jon Dahl Tomasson!!!

@LeeBRFCSpary: Here’s to you Jon Dahl Tomasson, Rovers love you more than you will know 🎵