Slaven Bilic shortlisted for Championship manager’s job after new sack development
Former West Ham boss Slaven Bilic is on Blackburn Rovers’ managerial shortlist if they decide to sack under-pressure manager Valerien Ismael soon.
Ismael was appointed as Blackburn’s new boss last February to replace John Eustace after his shock departure to take the Derby County job.
They were sixth in the Championship when he took over, but ended up missing out on a playoff spot in seventh place, while they have struggled to reach such heights so far this term.
Rovers are embroiled in a relegation battle as it stands, after slipping into the bottom three recently following a run of nine games without a win.
Ismael is the new favourite among Championship bosses to be sacked next, with Bilic believed to be on the list of contenders to replace him at Ewood Park.
Bilic is on Rovers’ radar if Ismael is sacked
Bilic has been out of work since leaving Saudi Pro League side Al-Fateh in August 2024, while he last managed an English team in March 2023, when he was sacked by Watford.
The 57-year-old is best known on these shores for his two-year stint as West Ham manager between 2015 and 2017.
According to a new report from talkSPORT’s Alex Crook, Bilic is one of the options on the shortlist of Blackburn chiefs if they decide to sack Ismael in the weeks to come.
Sources told Football Insider last month that West Ham were considering approaching Bilic if Nuno Espirito Santo was to be dismissed, but he has since turned things around slightly at the London Stadium.
Who else is in the running to be Blackburn’s next manager?
Ismael is certainly facing an uncertain future in the Ewood Park dugout, with the club potentially set to relieve him of his duties if they do not beat a struggling Sheffield Wednesday side on Tuesday night.
With a potential change on the horizon, Damien Duff has been installed as the favourite to be Rovers’ next boss by one major UK bookmaker, at odds of 4/1.
Former manager Tony Mowbray has also been touted to potentially return to Ewood Park, as the bookies’ second-favourite at odds of 11/2.
David Wagner is another believed to be in the running, at 7/1 odds, while Gary Rowett could soon return to the second-tier, as he is priced at odds of 8/1 to succeed Ismael.