Blackburn Rovers’ Managerial Sweepstakes: Who’s Mad Enough to Take the Job?

Blackburn Rovers. A club with a proud history, a European Cup winner (Alan Shearer would like you to remember that), and a managerial turnover rate that rivals a revolving door in a wind tunnel. Once again, they find themselves in search of a new gaffer—someone daft enough to take on the task of steering this ship through the choppy waters of the Championship.

The bookies have their favourites, but as we all know, the odds are about as reliable as a politician’s manifesto promise. So, let’s take a look at the contenders—and a wildcard who might just shake things up.

Lee Carsley: The FA’s Golden Boy, But Can He Handle Tuesday Nights in Stoke?

Current Odds: 2.50 (40%)
Reevaluated Odds: 3.00 (33.33%)

Lee Carsley is a name whispered in hushed tones among FA executives, mainly because he’s done what few England youth coaches have managed—win something. As England U21 boss, he’s developed young talent with impressive success, leading some to believe he’s ready for the Championship.

But here’s the issue: coaching U21s is a bit like teaching GCSE maths to a bunch of bright kids who actually want to learn. Managing in the Championship? That’s more like trying to keep order in a Year 9 classroom where half the students have discovered energy drinks and the other half are lighting things on fire.

Will he succeed? Possibly. But don’t be surprised if he takes one look at Blackburn’s winter fixture list and suddenly remembers he has a very important youth tournament in 2026 that he simply must prepare for.

Gary O’Neil: The Sensible Choice, But Who Wants That?

Current Odds: 3.50 (28.57%)
Reevaluated Odds: 3.20 (31.25%)

Gary O’Neil is the football equivalent of buying a Volvo. He’s safe, steady, and won’t do anything reckless like play a high defensive line with a centre-back pairing of "bloke from League One" and "loanee from Chelsea’s reserves."

He did an admirable job keeping Wolves afloat in the Premier League, and his work at Bournemouth suggests he knows how to stabilise a club. But Blackburn fans dreaming of a return to the top flight might feel like appointing O’Neil is the equivalent of setting your satnav to "mid-table obscurity" and hitting cruise control.

Aitor Karanka: The Championship’s Favourite Miserable Uncle

Current Odds: 6.00 (16.67%)
Reevaluated Odds: 5.50 (15.38%)

Ah, Aitor Karanka—the man who took Middlesbrough to the promised land of the Premier League, then immediately realised he had no idea what to do once he got there. His teams are disciplined, organised, and about as entertaining as a three-hour lecture on tax law.

His defensive approach could be exactly what Blackburn needs, but the big question is whether he’s adapted. The Championship is no longer the grind-it-out, war-of-attrition league he once knew. Today, even Sheffield Wednesday are attempting "progressive football" (with mixed results).

Still, if you’re nostalgic for the days of 1-0 wins and 35% possession, Karanka might just be your man.

Carlos Carvalhal: The Championship’s Philosopher-King

Current Odds: 7.00 (12.50%)
Reevaluated Odds: 6.00 (14.29%)

Carlos Carvalhal is the sort of manager who’d describe a counterattack as "like a sardine slipping through a shark’s teeth" before launching into a ten-minute analogy about the state of Portuguese agriculture. He’s eccentric, he’s unpredictable, and—crucially—he actually knows how to get a team playing attacking football.

His time at Sheffield Wednesday showed that he understands the Championship, and he’s won trophies in Portugal and Turkey. But his teams tend to burn bright and fade fast, like a shooting star or a managerial stint at Watford.

Could he inject some flair into Ewood Park? Yes. Could it also end in chaos, defensive horror shows, and 4-3 defeats every other week? Also yes.

Steven Gerrard: The Name’s Big, But is He?

Current Odds: 8.00 (11.11%)
Reevaluated Odds: 9.00 (10.00%)

Ah, Steven Gerrard. Once tipped as England’s managerial golden boy, now more like a slightly tarnished bronze. His time at Rangers was a triumph, but Aston Villa quickly reminded everyone that charisma alone doesn’t win you matches.

Would he take the Blackburn job? That depends on whether he fancies swapping his Dubai villa for away days at Millwall. If you can imagine Gerrard standing on the touchline at The Den, hands in pockets, staring into the middle distance while some bloke in Row Z calls him a "Scouse lamp post," then you’ve got a better imagination than me.

Still, he’d bring attention, which might be enough for Blackburn’s owners to take the plunge.

Leftfield Candidate: Sam Allardyce—A Return to the Scene of the Crime?

Current Odds: Literally not listed, but let’s have some fun
Reevaluated Odds: 20.00 (5%)

Yes, yes, he’s 69 years old. Yes, he’s supposedly "done with management." But we all know Big Sam’s kryptonite: an English club in crisis. And technically, this counts.

Allardyce was last seen trying (and failing) to keep Leeds in the Premier League, but let’s not forget—he once managed Blackburn with moderate success (until the Venky’s decided they’d rather be a cautionary tale in how not to run a football club). Could he be tempted back for one last ride?

Let’s face it, this is the Championship. Stranger things have happened.

Final Verdict: Who’s Actually Getting the Job?

Blackburn’s next manager needs to be smart, adaptable, and prepared for a season of pure chaos. So, naturally, they’ll probably pick someone who’s none of those things.

• Carsley is the favourite, but he might look at the fixture list and decide U21 tournaments are more fun.

• O’Neil is the safe option, but does anyone really want the safe option?

• Karanka will tighten the defence, but Blackburn fans might fall into a coma watching his football.

• Carvalhal will entertain, but it could all go horribly wrong.

• Gerrard probably has his sights set on a cushier job.

• Big Sam? Well, if he fancies one last dance, it could be the best (or worst) decision Blackburn ever makes.

At the end of the day, whoever takes over will have a hell of a job on their hands. And if recent history is anything to go by, we’ll be having this exact same discussion again in about 18 months.

Championship football—where dreams are made, and managerial careers are destroyed in record time.