Blackburn Rovers are pleased to announce the appointment of Tony Mowbray as the club’s new Head Coach.

The 53-year-old, who has managed at the highest level in England and Scotland, has agreed an 18-month contract at Ewood Park.

A distinguished defender in his playing days, Mowbray made over 650 club appearances for Middlesbrough, Celtic and Ipswich Town, before beginning his coaching career at Portman Road.

After a brief spell in caretaker charge at Ipswich, Mowbray was handed his first managerial job at SPL side Hibernian, who he twice guided into Europe with two top-four finishes and was named the Scottish Football Writers’ Association Manager of the Year.

In October 2006, Mowbray was appointed manager of West Bromwich Albion, who he led to the Championship play-off final in his first season at The Hawthorns and then the Championship title in his second, as well as the last four of the FA Cup.

Scottish giants Celtic came calling in June 2009, before Mowbray returned to another of his former clubs, Middlesbrough, in October 2010.

A legend on Teesside, Mowbray guided Boro to Championship safety in his first season, before narrowly missing out on a place in the play-offs in his second. He also worked with current Rovers stars Marvin Emnes and Jason Steele during his time at the Riverside.

Mowbray left Middlesbrough in October 2013, taking charge of Coventry City in March 2015. He secured the Sky Blues’ status in League One, before guiding them to an eighth-place finish last term.

Rovers’ new Head Coach will take training for the first time at Brockhall this afternoon, as the players prepare for Friday’s Championship clash away to Burton Albion.

Mowbray’s management team will include two familiar faces to Rovers fans, with the club’s Head of Academy Coaching David Lowe stepping up to become Assistant Manager and club legend David Dunn taking on the role of First Team Coach.