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Tony Mowbray speaks for first time on returning to Blackburn for second spell as head coach

Tony Mowbray speaks for the first time on returning to Blackburn Rovers for a second spell as their head coach, replacing Michael O’Neill.

On the 12th of May, it was confirmed that Michael O’Neill would not be extending his stay at Blackburn, beyond the 2025/26 season, having been in interim charge.

In O’Neill’s 15 games in charge of Rovers, he won 5, drew 5 and lost 5, and finished 20th with 52 points from 46 games played, 5 points above the drop zone.

And since then, Blackburn have been on the search for his replacement, and after struggling to bring in Slaven Bilic, it opened the door for Mowbray.

The 62 year old was in charge of Rovers between 2017 and 2022, a win percentage of 40.45 having won 108 out of the 267 games he managed.

CLUB STATEMENT:

Blackburn Rovers is delighted to announce the return of Tony Mowbray as the club’s Head Coach.

Mowbray, who has signed a long-term contract, previously managed Rovers between February 2017 and May 2022, and returns to Ewood Park with a deep connection to the club, our supporters and the wider Blackburn community.

During his first spell in charge, Mowbray guided Rovers back to the Championship at the first attempt, before establishing the club as a competitive outfit in the division.

Under his leadership, a number of talented young players emerged through the ranks, while the team consistently challenged in the top half of the table, playing an exciting brand of attacking football.

The 62-year-old now returns to lead a new chapter for the club, bringing with him a wealth of experience, strong footballing principles and a clear understanding of the club’s identity and ambitions.

Mowbray, who has also managed Hibs, West Bromwich Albion, Celtic, Middlesbrough, Coventry City, Sunderland and Birmingham City, will begin work immediately, as preparations for the upcoming season get underway.

Everyone at Blackburn Rovers would like to extend a warm welcome back to Tony and we wish him every success upon his return to Ewood Park.

Welcome home, Tony!

He said: “It makes me proud to be part of such a famous club, a worldwide famous club, won the Premier League and had so many great players. Excited, proud, can’t wait to get started.”

In a message to the fans: “Hello there, Tony Mowbray here. Just a short message to the fans of Blackburn Rovers.

“Just to let you know that we will be working every hour of the day to give you a team to be proud of.

“A team that hopefully starts to head back towards the Premier League where this great club deserves to be.

“So there will be no lack of energy, hard work, integrity, honesty on the pitch and on the training ground to try and give yous all a team you deserve. See you soon, bye bye.”

He told RoversTV: “It feels quite amazing.

“I’ve been back a few times in the past season to watch a few games and it feels like home, especially considering I spent a long time here – five-and-a-half years.

“That’s a long, long time in modern-day football, and we had some good times and felt like we’d built a half-decent team but couldn’t quite get over the line to reach our ambition of getting in the Premier League.

“It almost feels like I’m coming back to finish the job, because the aim of every team in the Championship is to try and get to the Premier League.

“I think you need the energy to do the job and my wife is so happy that this opportunity has come because I’ve been driving everybody mad in the house!

“I’m full of energy, but the highlight of my day has been going out and walking the dog!

“Football burns away in me. I can’t wait to get started and I’m looking forward to making new relationships and reinventing the old ones.

“I’m looking forward to meeting the players and I’m hoping they’re all full of energy and desperate to do well.

“I’m looking forward to it, I know the responsibility of being the Head Coach at a club like this and I am here to make people proud.”

Here’s how fans reacted as Tony Mowbray speaks on the decision to return to Blackburn for a second spell as head coach…

@ChrisMartin_93: I’m not 100% sure about this appointment. Fingers crossed it works out. But how can you not love big Tony ❤️

@GiallorossiBlue: Mowbray did well enough the last time he was at Rovers and I’ll always love him, especially for getting us out of League One. But our squad is *far* worse than it was during his last stint here and if he didn’t achieve anything with that squad what’s he going to do with this one?

@ChrisBRFC91: Build us a team of soldiers & artists 🔵⚪️

@_Aaron_Holt_01: Speaks well, he’s got the backing of the fans, but the board don’t have the backing of the fans

@Mcglench: What a truly authentic fella. Hope this works.

@JackFielding20: Safe option. I have more trust in Mowbray than I do Bilic.

@WonAndOnlyDeuce: Gotta admit I wasn’t expecting it with all the Challinor links, but I definitely don’t mind it! Love Mogga!! Glad to see him back!

@Lancsiron: They always say never go back… Another interesting one to watch… Knows the club, knows the Venky’s, knows football and the Championship but will it be enough to have a positive impact and get them to recruit the right players…

@RyanHillback: Despite the fact he’s managed my teams fiercest rivals twice, I have massive respect for Tony Mowbray. Great manager and seems a good guy. Blackburn are a proper football club too so hope it works out (except for the two games against Wolves).

@michaelmaud: Said a few weeks ago I’d have Tony Mowbray back in a heartbeat. A lot to sort out but he’s done it before, a decent guy who plays good football and has an eye for a good footballer. A new CEO coming in, and Venkys able to finance the club again, I’m cautiously optimistic #rovers

@TwooterHead: Boom! Out of nowhere! Welcome back Tony! Lets get the club back together again!

@Leap_year_man: Wow!! Did not see that coming, welcome back Tony couldn’t put the club in safer hands this does what it says on the tin, stability 💙

@papalanga: People might think this as being a safe choice or uninspiring but let’s be fair we could have done a lot worse and really started the season off on the wrong foot. No complaints from me

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