John Eustace: Derby County name Blackburn Rovers boss as new head coach
2025-02-13
Category: sports

Head coach John Eustace has left Championship promotion chasers Blackburn Rovers to take over as boss of relegation-threatened Derby County on a three-and-a-half-year deal.Eustace was absent from Blackburn's win at West Bromwich Albion on Wednesday, which lifted Rovers up to fifth in the table - 19 points and 16 places above Derby.His first game in charge of the Pride Park side, with whom he had two spells as a player, will be Friday's trip to Queens Park Rangers.It was late on Monday when Blackburn "reluctantly" gave Eustace permission to begin talks with their lowly Championship rivals, who sacked Paul Warne on Friday.Despite meeting with Derby officials on Tuesday, Eustace was not spotted at Pride Park later that day as the Rams shared the points with Oxford United in an uneventful draw that lifted them out of the relegation places on goals scored.Assistant head coach Matt Gardiner and first-team coach Keith Downing also leave Blackburn to join Eustace at Derby.
Derby owner David Clowes said he is "excited to welcome" Eustace back to Pride Park, where he ended his playing career a decade ago."Fans will remember him for his craft, commitment and intelligence, he was a real leader," Clowes told the club website., external"I've followed his managerial career with interest, and it's clear he has the qualities we need to maintain our progress."Eustace, who also previously managed Birmingham City in the second tier, leaves Ewood Park with Blackburn in the play-off spots with 14 matches remaining.Despite the clubs being at opposite ends of the table, it is understood Eustace believes Derby are the better long-term project. And with his family living in the Midlands, location has been a major factor in the move.Rovers said they were "disappointed by his decision to leave at this crucial stage of the season" but added they "understand" the family reason behind it and the pull of his former side."The club had hoped that John would see out the season and continue the fantastic work he has done, particularly after strengthening the squad in January and guiding us into a strong position in the league," a Rovers statement said., external"Football is always evolving, and while we part ways with John Eustace, this also presents an exciting opportunity for the new head coach to build on our current positive position."Eustace's exit from Blackburn means half of the teams in the Championship have changed manager since the start of the season.
Confirmation of his departure comes a day after the Lancashire side claimed just their third win in 12 league games.Despite picking up just 11 points from a possible 36 since late December, Rovers have maintained their spot among the high-fliers.His final game in the dugout for Rovers was Sunday's FA Cup exit against Premier League side Wolves.It is the second time in as many seasons that Eustace has left a club while they are in the play-off places in the Championship table.While this move is of his own volition, he had his time at Birmingham surprisingly ended in October 2023 by new owners who wanted Wayne Rooney in charge.It was a decision that sparked Blues' slide down the table, which culminated in relegation to League One later that season.Blackburn had been in relegation trouble themselves when Eustace took the job at Ewood Park and, after keeping them up, he has guided them among the promotion hopefuls this term.Derby's 10-match winless run across all competitions - which included seven straight league defeats - has them fourth from bottom of the table and in danger of making an immediate return to League One.Eustace had two spells at Derby as a player, with his first spent helping the Rams avoid relegation from the second tier in 2008-09 while on loan from Watford.He moved to Pride Park on a permanent deal in 2013 and saw out the final two years of his playing career.It was in that second spell he helped them get to within one win of the Premier League, with the Rams beaten in the Championship play-off final by QPR in 2014.