List of Blackburn Rovers F.C. managers explained

John Eustace is the current manager of Blackburn Rovers, an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire.

Founded on 5 November 1875, the club was one of the first to become professional. The club first played in the FA Cup in 1879 and managed to reach the final of the competition in 1882. Blackburn was one of the twelve founding member of the Football League in 1888.

The club have been champions of England three times, in 1911–12, 1913–14 and 1994–95. They have won the FA Cup six times, in 1884, 1885, 1886, 1890, 1891 and 1927–28. The club has also won one Football League Cup in 2001–02, one FA Charity Shield in 1912,^[1] and one Full Members' Cup, in 1986–87.

The club was initially managed by a committee of players whose secretary had the same powers and role as a manager has today. In 1884, Scottish-born Thomas Mitchell became secretary-manager. Under Mitchell, Blackburn won the FA Cup three times in a row; 1884, 1885 and 1886. Mitchell would guide Blackburn to a further two FA Cup wins in 1890 and 1891 before he left the club in 1896. His five FA Cups make him the most successful manager in Blackburn's history.

The longest-serving person to manage Blackburn is Robert Middleton, who was in charge of the club for 22 years and 3 months: from 1 August 1903 to 1 February 1922; a total of 605 competitive matches. During his tenure Middleton won two First Division titles (1912, 1914) and one FA Charity Shield in 1912. The shortest serving manager is Henning Berg who was manager from 31 October 2012 to 27 December 2012, a total of 57 days and 10 competitive matches.

There have been a total of 39 permanent managers at Blackburn and 5 caretakers. Two managers have held the position twice, Bob Crompton (December 1926 – February 1931 and June 1938 – March 1941) and Johnny Carey (June 1953 – October 1958 and October 1970 – June 1971), while Tony Parkes has been caretaker 4 separate times.

Every manager has come from the UK except for Johnny Carey and Owen Coyle who are both Irish, Henning Berg who is Norwegian, and Jon Dahl Tomasson who is Danish.

Jon Dahl Tomasson was manager for 18 months having taken over from Tony Mowbray in June 2022 during the close season.^[2] He enjoyed a modicum of success in his first season but his second season proved more difficult due to financial difficulties at the club resulting in budgets cuts.

The club's current manager is John Eustace, who took over from Jon Dahl Tomasson on 9 February 2024.

List of managers

Information correct after match played on 17 August 2024.^[3] Only competitive matches are counted, except the abandoned 1939–40 Football League season and matches in Wartime Leagues and Cups.

Names of caretaker managers are supplied where known, and the names of caretaker managers are highlighted in italics and marked with an asterisk (*).

+List of Blackburn Rovers F.C. managers
Name	Nationality	From	To	Matches	Won	Drawn	Lost	Win%	Honours
				FA Cup winners: 1884, 1885, 1886, 1890, 1891	^[4]
					^[5]
				First Division champions: 1911-12, 1913-14 FA Charity Shield winners: 1912	^[6]
					^[7]
				FA Cup winners: 1927-28	^[8]
					^[9]
					^[10]
				Second Division champions: 1938-39
					^[11]
					^[12]
					^[13]
					^[14]
					^[15]
					^[16]
					^[17]
					^[18]
					^[19]
					^[20] ^[21]
				Third Division champions: 1974–75	^[22]
					^[23]
					^[24]
					^[25]
					^[26]
				Third Division runners-up/promoted: 1979–80	^[27]
					^[28]
					^[29]
				Full Members' Cup winners: 1986-87	^[30]
				Second Division promoted: 1991-92 Premier League champions: 1994-95	^[31]
					^[32]
					^[33]
					^[34] ^[35] ^[36]
					^[37] ^[38]
				First Division runners-up/promoted: 2000-01 Football League Cup winners: 2001-02	^[39] ^[40]
					^[41] ^[42] ^[43]
					^[44] ^[45] ^[46]
					^[47] ^[48]
					^[49] ^[50] ^[51]
					^[52] ^[53] ^[54]
					^[55] ^[56] ^[57]
					^[58]
					^[59] ^[60] ^[61]
					^[62]
					^[63] ^[64]
					^[65] ^[66] ^[67]
					^[68] ^[69] ^[70]
				League One runners-up/promoted: 2017–18	^[71] ^[72]
					^[73]
					^[74] ^[75]

Records

Nationalities

As of 25 February 2024 (including caretakers)

• English (32)
• Scottish (7)
• Irish (2)
• Danish (1)
• Northern Irish (1)
• Norwegian (1)
• Welsh (1)

References

Specific

Notes and References

1. Web site: England – List of FA Charity/Community Shield Matches. Ross. James M.. 5 August 2019. 23 May 2020. RSSSF. https://web.archive.org/web/20201115125550/http://www.rsssf.com/tablese/engsupcuphist.html. 15 November 2020.
2. Web site: https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/61795210.amp. Jon Dahl Tomasson: Blackburn Rovers appoint head coach on three-year deal. 14 June 2022. 14 June 2022. BBC Sport.
3. Web site: Blackburn Rovers Managers List. 2 November 2021. Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
4. Web site: Thomas Mitchell. 2 November 2021. Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
5. Web site: Joseph Warmsley. 2 November 2021. Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
6. Web site: Robert Middleton. 2 November 2021. Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
7. Web site: Jack Carr. 2 November 2021. Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
8. Web site: Bob Crompton. 2 November 2021. Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
9. Web site: Arthur Barritt. 2 November 2021. Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
10. Web site: Reg Taylor. 2 November 2021. Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
11. Web site: Eddie Hapgood. 2 November 2021. Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
12. Web site: Will Scott. 2 November 2021. Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
13. Web site: Jackie Bestall. 2 November 2021. Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
14. Web site: Jack Bruton. 2 November 2021. Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
15. Web site: Johnny Carey. 2 November 2021. Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
16. Web site: Dally Duncan. 2 November 2021. Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
17. Web site: Jack Marshall. 2 November 2021. Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
18. Web site: Eddie Quigley. 2 November 2021. Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
19. Web site: Ken Furphy. 2 November 2021. Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
20. Web site: Richard Dinnis. 9 December 2022. ENFA. ENFA.
21. Web site: The Saturday Interview: Andy Neild meets Richard Dinnis. The Lancashire Telegraph. Andy. Neild. 28 November 1998. 25 October 2021.
22. Web site: Gordon Lee. 2 November 2021. Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
23. Web site: Jim Smith. 2 November 2021. Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
24. Web site: Norman Bodell. 9 December 2022. ENFA. ENFA.
25. Web site: Jim Iley. 2 November 2021. Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
26. Web site: John Pickering. 2 November 2021. Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
27. Web site: Howard Kendall. 2 November 2021. Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
28. Web site: Bobby Saxton. 2 November 2021. Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
29. Web site: Tony Parkes. 9 December 2022. ENFA. ENFA.
30. Web site: Don Mackay. 2 November 2021. Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
31. Web site: Kenny Dalglish. 2 November 2021. Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
32. Web site: Ray Harford. 2 November 2021. Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
33. Web site: Tony Parkes. 2 November 2021. Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
34. News: Kidd takes the Rovers road to the top. Ian. Ross. The Guardian . 4 December 1998. 19 February 2009.
35. News: Hodgson out as Rovers hit bottom. Daniel. Taylor. The Guardian. 21 November 1998. 19 February 2009.
36. Web site: Roy Hodgson. 2 November 2021. Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
37. News: Boom and bust the Blackburn way . BBC News . 13 May 1999.
38. Web site: Brian Kidd. 2 November 2021. Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
39. News: Souness takes Newcastle job . BBC Sport . 6 September 2004 . 3 April 2012.
40. Web site: Graeme Souness. 2 November 2021. Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
41. News: Ian . Walsh . Hughes leaves a void . BBC Sport . 16 September 2004 . 4 December 2008 .
42. News: Hughes becomes Man City manager . Phil . McNulty . BBC Sport . 4 June 2008 . 4 June 2008.
43. Web site: Mark Hughes. 2 November 2021. Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
44. News: Blackburn appoint Ince as manager . BBC Sport . 22 June 2008 . 16 December 2008 .
45. News: Lowly Blackburn sack boss Ince . BBC Sport . 16 December 2008 . 16 December 2008 .
46. Web site: Paul Ince. 2 November 2021. Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
47. News: Blackburn Rovers sack manager Sam Allardyce . 13 December 2010 . BBC Sport.
48. Web site: Sam Allardyce. 2 November 2021. Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
49. News: Steve Kean put in charge by Blackburn. BBC Sport. 22 December 2010 . 22 December 2010 .
50. News: Steve Kean 'forced to resign' as Blackburn Rovers manager . BBC Sport. 28 September 2012 . 28 September 2012 .
51. Web site: Steve Kean. 2 November 2021. Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
52. Web site: Blackburn Rovers: Eric Black focused on first-team matters . BBC Sport . BBC . 18 October 2012 . 30 May 2016.
53. Web site: Blackburn: Gary Bowyer & Terry McPhillips in charge for January. 3 January 2013. BBC Sport.
54. Web site: Eric Black. 2 November 2021. Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
55. News: Blackburn Rovers: Henning Berg appointed manager at Ewood Park. BBC Sport. 31 October 2012. 5 November 2012.
56. Web site: Henning Berg: Blackburn Rovers sack manager after 57 days . BBC . BBC Sport . 27 December 2012 . 27 December 2012.
57. Web site: Henning Berg. 2 November 2021. Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
58. Web site: Gary Bowyer. 2 November 2021. Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
59. News: Michael Appleton: Blackburn Rovers announce new manager . BBC Sport . 11 January 2013. 28 March 2017.
60. Web site: Michael Appleton: Blackburn Rovers sack manager . BBC Sport . 19 March 2013.
61. Web site: Michael Appleton. 2 November 2021. Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
62. Web site: Blackburn Rovers: Gary Bowyer confirmed as caretaker manager. 22 March 2013. BBC Sport.
63. Web site: Gary Bowyer: Blackburn Rovers caretaker manager appointed boss. 24 May 2013. BBC Sport.
64. Web site: Gary Bowyer: Blackburn Rovers sack manager after poor start. BBC Sport.
65. Web site: Paul Lambert: Blackburn appoint former Aston Villa manager . BBC Sport . 15 November 2015 . 15 November 2015.
66. Web site: Club Statement . Blackburn Rovers F.C. . 28 April 2016 . 8 May 2016.
67. Web site: Paul Lambert. 2 November 2021. Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
68. News: Owen Coyle: Blackburn Rovers appoint former Bolton and Burnley manager . BBC Sport . 2 June 2016 . 2 June 2016.
69. News: Rovers part company with Owen Coyle . Blackburn Rovers F.C. . 21 February 2017 . 21 February 2017.
70. Web site: Owen Coyle. 2 November 2021. Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
71. Web site: Rovers welcome new Head Coach. Rovers.co.uk. 22 February 2017.
72. Web site: Tony Mowbray. 2 November 2021. Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
73. Web site: Jon Dahl Tomasson. 8 June 2023. Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
74. Web site: Eustace appointed Rovers head coach. Rovers.co.uk. 20 August 2024.
75. Web site: John Eustace. 20 August 2024. Sofascore.