Blackburn Rovers have sacked head coach Valerien Ismael by mutual consent, the club confirmed on Monday, February 2, 2026. The decision follows an eight-game winless run in the Championship, which has seen the club slide into a relegation battle. Rovers suffered a 1-0 defeat to Hull City on Saturday, January 31, which proved to be Ismael's final match in charge. This extended their winless streak to nine matches across all competitions.
The club now sits in the Championship relegation zone, three points adrift of safety, with the prospect of dropping to League One becoming a real concern. Ismael was appointed in February 2025 and oversaw 43 fixtures during his tenure at Ewood Park. Under his leadership, Blackburn recorded 11 wins, 12 draws, and 20 defeats. Assistant head coach Dean Whitehead has also departed the club with immediate effect. Damien Johnson is expected to take charge on an interim basis for the upcoming fixtures.
