Favourites to become new Blackburn manager after sacking Valerien Ismael

The favourites to become new Blackburn Rovers manager has been revealed after now with the sacking Valerien Ismael confirmed.

It comes after Lewis Koumas scored on his debut to give Hull City a fourth straight win, moving them up to third in the table, while for Blackburn, it is now winless in eight games, leaving them in relegation trouble.

The result spelled the end of Ismael at Blackburn, who was appointed back in February 2025 after John Eustace’s departure.

Damien Johnson has been placed in temporary charge of first team affairs following the departure of Valérien Ismaël.

The long-serving Rovers coach has agreed to lead the team going forward and will be in the dugout when we take on Sheffield Wednesday at Ewood Park tomorrow night.

Johnson, who made 81 appearances for the club as a player, returned to Rovers as an Academy coach in April 2015, before being promoted to the role of first team technical coach and head of player development in July 2019.

It will be the Northern Irishman’s second spell in caretaker charge, having overseen a 3-1 victory over Stoke City at Ewood Park in February 2024.

📰 Valérien Ismaël has today left his position as Blackburn Rovers’ Head Coach by mutual consent.

Ismaël joined the club in February 2025, however it has been mutually agreed that he will step away from his role with immediate effect, along with Assistant Head Coach Dean… pic.twitter.com/M3CcVUCtt6

— Blackburn Rovers (@Rovers) February 2, 2026

Tony Mowbray and Slaven Bilic among the contenders to replace Valerien Ismael, who has left his role as Blackburn Rovers head coach. 🚨 pic.twitter.com/3kO84t0Ern

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) February 2, 2026

FAVOURITES TO BECOME NEW BLACKBURN MANAGER:

Per BetVictor
David Wagner – 7/4
Slaven Bilic – 4/1
Tony Mowbray – 6/1
Chris Coleman – 6/1
Damien Duff – 8/1
Gary Rowett – 10/1
Aitor Karanka – 10/1
Wayne Rooney – 10/1
Ralph Hasenhuttl – 10/1

The results meant it was inevitable Ismael would go from @Rovers Tony Mowbray and Slaven Billic the names being talked about to replace him. Rovers have to stop this Manager merry go round, the next will be the 12th permanent manager in 15 years, no stability

— Alan Myers (@ALANMYERSMEDIA) February 2, 2026

Hearing Slaven Bilic among the options if struggling #Rovers decide to make a managerial change. More on https://t.co/ZRTBbuiXmA

— Alex Crook ⚽️🎙 (@alex_crook) February 2, 2026

Blackburn Rovers head coach Valerien Ismael told BBC Radio Lancashire:

“I think it’s not about the performance today, it’s not about the desire or the mentality.

“What we have to complain about is take our chances, it’s as simple as that. At some point you have to take your chances when you dominate the game like this.

“You’re on the front foot, on top of the opposition, and you have to get the reward and make sure you score a goal.

“I think it will help us and all of a sudden, in the second half from nothing, we concede that goal and after that late in the game, it’s tough for the players because, as I said, they try to give everything in the game.”

He told RoversTV: “It’s a big disappointment for the boys and what we take from the game is that you have to take your chances.

“We had some big chances and we had to score, we needed that first goal.

“We have to be more clinical in the box, me more calm and to make the right decision.

“We were dominating the game in the first half and were very strong in the second half. We conceded the goal at the end and it’s tough to come back from that mentally because the players had the feeling that we were closer to scoring than conceding.

“We’re not able to win at home again and nobody understands why we’re struggling that much, which means everyone is frustrated. We want to win badly and we did everything, but we have to make sure we take our chances,” he added.

“We saw with the strength of the squad that we can compete with anyone with our players, which gives us a good feeling and the belief to go again.

“We need that win at some point to cement everything.”

Ismael, per Sky Sports:

“I don’t know why it’s so complicated. It’s not about the performance today, not about the desire, the mentality.

“What we have to complain about is we have to take our chances. At some point you have to take the chance. When you dominate the game like this, you are on the front foot on the top of your subject, you have to get the reward and to make sure you score the goal.

“All of a sudden in the second half, from nothing, we concede that goal. After that, late in the game, it’s tough for the players because they are trying to give everything. We see completely another Rovers than we saw maybe a couple of weeks ago due to the injuries we had.

“The power is there, the willingness is there, so any reason why we’re not winning at home, why it’s so complicated this season? So now we have to keep that performance, to make sure that when we get the chance, we take our chance.”

Here’s how fans reacted amid the favourites to become new Blackburn manager after sacking Valerien Ismael…

@LatestRovers: Thank god, now sign a striker and get the other clowns gone 👍🏻

@chrlesports: Publicly begged the club for an ounce of support in transfer windows and got next to none – now scapegoated for terrible performances on the pitch. Feels bad man

@papalanga: Not helped by the clowns that continue to run the club inc that fraud Gestede. Really wished this would have worked out but not seen anything in 12 months that showed glimpses of improvement or promise. #rovers #brfc

@slater3291: Actually feel sorry for him, he took over a chap who left because of the lack of direction from the people above. I guess you could say he knew what he was getting into. However, the tactics have been well off in recent matches and a departure was always inevitable.

@Charlotte_BRFC: My worry is that they let him lead training today – therefore tomorrows game tactics will be his. Also does this impact the potential signings today – should have happened at the full time whistle on Saturday @Rovers

@GeeNelsss:
9th Feb 2024: JDT Leaves Rovers
9th Feb 2025: Eustace leaves Rovers
2nd Feb 2026- Ismael Leaves Rovers.
Just a week early this year lads.
#Rovers

@h__crook: Awful manager and should’ve happened a long time before. Not even sure where to go from here but then again I don’t think anyone knows the direction our club is going in at any time. #Rovers #Ismael #BRFC

@ChrisMartin_93: Sacking Valérien Ismaël on transfer deadline day when we still want a new striker is the most Blackburn Rovers thing I’ve ever seen. This club is absolutely peak. #Rovers

@BRFC4Life: Oh no, what a shame. #rovers board swallow their pride & egos to get rid a manager who should never have been appointed in the 1st place. Hugely important task now to name a quality successor, to give the club any chance of staying up. High hopes of happening? Not so much.

@ThrowingAPaddy: I’m sorry it hasn’t worked out for him. Impossible working conditions but probably the right call for fresh impetus and hope of survival. But who next? Could be out of the frying pan and into the fire…