MIDDLESBROUGH and Sunderland's Championship rivals Blackburn Rovers have appointed Valerien Ismael as their new head coach.
The 49-year-old former Barnsley and West Brom boss replaces John Eustace, who quit to take over at Derby a fortnight ago.
Rovers are currently sixth in the Championship, 11 points adrift of fourth-place Sunderland and seven ahead of Boro ahead of Michael Carrick's side's game in hand at Stoke City tonight.
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Blackburn play both Boro and the Black Cats before the end of the season. Boro travel to Ewood Park at the start of April before Rovers head for the Stadium of Light later that month in the third last game of the season.
Ismael previously led Barnsley to a surprise top six finish in the Championship and has also had spells in charge of West Brmo and Watford.
Rovers’ chief executive Steve Waggott told the club website: “I am delighted to welcome Valérien to the club.
“We were hugely impressed with Valérien throughout what was a rigorous recruitment process.
“He knows the Championship extremely well and what it takes to finish in the play-offs.
“He has played and managed in some of the biggest environments across Europe, and has all the credentials to have a successful spell with us over the coming years.
