Blackburn Rovers bring in 43-year-old after Stoke City exit
Blackburn Rovers have named Dean Whitehead as their assistant manager, as announced on their official club website.
Blackburn Rovers have brought in the 43-year-old to bolster their backroom staff. He left Stoke City in January and is now back in the game with Rovers.
The Lancashire outfit have named Valerien Ismael as their replacement for John Eustace. Whitehead has worked with the Frenchman in the past at Besiktas and Watford.
Following their reunion at Ewood Park, Ismael has said, as per the club website: “Dean is a great guy, who I have worked with previously at Beşiktaş and Watford. He comes from football. He is a former player who had a big career and he brings a lot of experience.
“He is someone who understands about the culture and what every club is about. He knows English football perfectly, he knows the people, he has good connections and his expertise is very important to me.”
Blackburn Rovers bring in Dean Whitehead after Stoke City exit
Blackburn Rovers will hope Ismael can hit the ground running immediately as they look to gain promotion to the Premier League.
Whitehead is someone who their new head coach knows and trusts and it is a boost to bring him in.
The Oxford-born man started his playing career at Oxford United before embarking on spells at Sunderland, Stoke City, Middlesbrough and Huddersfield Town.
He made 622 appearances in all competitions as a midfielder and scored 29 goals before hanging up his boots in 2018.
Whitehead has since delved into the coaching world and started out at Huddersfield Town under David Wagner.
He then had stints in the lower leagues at Shrewsbury Town and Port Vale before moving over to Turkey when Besiktas came calling.
Ismael crossed paths with him in Istanbul and he reunited with him further down the line at Watford following time at Cardiff City.
Whitehead has since worked at Barnsley and Stoke City before parting ways with the latter when Narcis Pelach was sacked earlier this winter.
What now for Blackburn Rovers?
Blackburn Rovers are sat in 6th place in the table and are inside the play-offs with Burnley, Sunderland and West Brom.
They are one point above Coventry City in 7th and have 12 fixtures left to play.
Next up for Rovers is a home clash against Norwich City this weekend as they look to bounce back from their loss to Swansea City.
