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Valérien Ismaël

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Valérien Ismaël

Valérien Alexandre Ismaël (born 28 September 1975) is a French professional football manager and former player who is the head coach of EFL Championship club Blackburn Rovers. A centre-back, Ismaël played for Strasbourg, Crystal Palace, Lens, Werder Bremen, Bayern Munich and Hannover 96. As a player, he won the Coupe de France, the Coupe de la Ligue twice, the Bundesliga twice, as well as the DFB-Pokal on two occasions. Following his retirement, he moved into management, first as a reserve coach for a number of clubs before moving into senior management with spells at 1. FC Nürnberg, VfL Wolfsburg and with Austrian Bundesliga club LASK, before spells with English Championship clubs Barnsley, West Bromwich Albion and Watford. He was appointed head coach of Blackburn Rovers in February 2025.

Infobox

1998
Crystal Palace
2001
→ Strasbourg (loan)
2014
1. FC Nürnberg
2018
Apollon Smyrnis
2022
Beşiktaş
Full name
Valérien Alexandre Ismaël
Date of birth
(1975-09-28) 28 September 1975 (age 50)
Place of birth
Strasbourg, Bas-Rhin, France
Height
1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position
Centre-back
Current team
Blackburn Rovers (head coach)
1982–1984
AS Holtzheim
1984–1992
Strasbourg
Years
Team
1993–1998
Strasbourg
1998–2002
Lens
2002–2004
Strasbourg
2003–2004
→ Werder Bremen (loan)
2004–2005
Werder Bremen
2005–2007
Bayern Munich
2006–2007
Bayern Munich II
2007–2009
Hannover 96
1993–1994
France U18
1996–1997
France U21
2011–2013
Hannover 96 II
2013–2014
VfL Wolfsburg II
2015–2016
VfL Wolfsburg II
2016–2017
VfL Wolfsburg
2019–2020
LASK
2020–2021
Barnsley
2021–2022
West Bromwich Albion
2023–2024
Watford
2025–
Blackburn Rovers

Tables

Managerial record by team and tenure · Managerial statistics
P
P
Team
P
From
W
To
D
Record
L
Record
GF
Record
GA
Record
GD
Record
Win %
Hannover 96 II
Hannover 96 II
Team
Hannover 96 II
From
28 November 2011
To
30 June 2013
Record
49
Record
24
Record
10
Record
15
Record
94
Record
66
Record
+28
Record
048.98
VfL Wolfsburg II
VfL Wolfsburg II
Team
VfL Wolfsburg II
From
1 July 2013
To
5 June 2014
Record
36
Record
23
Record
6
Record
7
Record
85
Record
29
Record
+56
Record
063.89
1. FC Nürnberg
1. FC Nürnberg
Team
1. FC Nürnberg
From
5 June 2014
To
10 November 2014
Record
14
Record
4
Record
2
Record
8
Record
14
Record
25
Record
−11
Record
028.57
VfL Wolfsburg II
VfL Wolfsburg II
Team
VfL Wolfsburg II
From
1 June 2015
To
17 October 2016
Record
48
Record
30
Record
8
Record
10
Record
105
Record
42
Record
+63
Record
062.50
VfL Wolfsburg
VfL Wolfsburg
Team
VfL Wolfsburg
From
17 October 2016
To
26 February 2017
Record
17
Record
6
Record
1
Record
10
Record
17
Record
26
Record
−9
Record
035.29
Apollon Smyrnis
Apollon Smyrnis
Team
Apollon Smyrnis
From
29 May 2018
To
31 August 2018
Record
1
Record
0
Record
0
Record
1
Record
0
Record
1
Record
−1
Record
000.00
LASK
LASK
Team
LASK
From
27 May 2019
To
11 July 2020
Record
50
Record
31
Record
6
Record
13
Record
102
Record
57
Record
+45
Record
062.00
Barnsley
Barnsley
Team
Barnsley
From
23 October 2020
To
24 June 2021
Record
44
Record
25
Record
6
Record
13
Record
56
Record
43
Record
+13
Record
056.82
West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion
Team
West Bromwich Albion
From
24 June 2021
To
2 February 2022
Record
31
Record
12
Record
9
Record
10
Record
35
Record
32
Record
+3
Record
038.71
Beşiktaş
Beşiktaş
Team
Beşiktaş
From
25 March 2022
To
26 October 2022
Record
19
Record
8
Record
8
Record
3
Record
32
Record
23
Record
+9
Record
042.11
Watford
Watford
Team
Watford
From
10 May 2023
To
9 March 2024
Record
41
Record
12
Record
14
Record
15
Record
56
Record
57
Record
−1
Record
029.27
Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers
Team
Blackburn Rovers
From
25 February 2025
To
Present
Record
32
Record
10
Record
7
Record
15
Record
34
Record
40
Record
−6
Record
031.25
Total
Total
Team
Total
From
382
To
184
Record
77
Record
121
Record
629
Record
441
Record
+188
Record
048.17
Record
—
Team
From
To
Record
Ref.
P
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Win %
Hannover 96 II
28 November 2011
30 June 2013
49
24
10
15
94
66
+28
048.98
VfL Wolfsburg II
1 July 2013
5 June 2014
36
23
6
7
85
29
+56
063.89
1. FC Nürnberg
5 June 2014
10 November 2014
14
4
2
8
14
25
−11
028.57
VfL Wolfsburg II
1 June 2015
17 October 2016
48
30
8
10
105
42
+63
062.50
VfL Wolfsburg
17 October 2016
26 February 2017
17
6
1
10
17
26
−9
035.29
Apollon Smyrnis
29 May 2018
31 August 2018
1
0
0
1
0
1
−1
000.00
LASK
27 May 2019
11 July 2020
50
31
6
13
102
57
+45
062.00
Barnsley
23 October 2020
24 June 2021
44
25
6
13
56
43
+13
056.82
West Bromwich Albion
24 June 2021
2 February 2022
31
12
9
10
35
32
+3
038.71
Beşiktaş
25 March 2022
26 October 2022
19
8
8
3
32
23
+9
042.11
Watford
10 May 2023
9 March 2024
41
12
14
15
56
57
−1
029.27
Blackburn Rovers
25 February 2025
Present
32
10
7
15
34
40
−6
031.25
Total
382
184
77
121
629
441
+188
048.17
—

References

  1. "Beşiktaş'a Hoş Geldin Valérien Alexandre Ismaël"
    https://bjk.com.tr/tr/haber/83317/besiktasa-hos-geldin-valerien-alexandre-ismal.html
  2. L'Équipe
    https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/FootballFicheJoueur6014.html
  3. Berliner Zeitung
    https://web.archive.org/web/20160202023024/http://www.berliner-zeitung.de/archiv/bremens-isma-l-trifft-auf-ungeliebte-landsleute-deutscher-mit-akzent,10810590,10260996.html
  4. nordbayern.de
    http://www.nordbayern.de/sport/valerien-ismael-bekommt-die-freigabe-fur-den-club-1.3686523
  5. Bild.de
    http://www.bild.de/sport/2006/sport/bayern-ismael-nationalmannschaft-173198.bild.html
  6. Soccernet
    https://web.archive.org/web/19990222004744/http://www.soccernet.com/english/news/ENG-CPFC--106-01598.HTM
  7. "Strasbourg 0-0 Amiens"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20120204150942/http://www.lequipe.fr/Football/match/86380
  8. fcbayern.t-com.de
    http://www.fcbayern.t-com.de/en/news/news/2007/14376.php
  9. "Auf Ismael ruht die Hoffnung"
    https://www.kicker.de/auf-ismael-ruht-die-hoffnung-167668/artikel
  10. "Luca Toni weltmeisterlich"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20080504160819/http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/vereine/spielpaarungsbericht/object/807733/saison/2007-08/naviindex/1
  11. "Valérien Ismaël"
    https://www.11v11.com/players/valerian-ismael-1506/
  12. Faz.net
    https://www.faz.net/aktuell/sport/fussball/bayern-muenchen-ismael-wird-nicht-fuer-deutschland-spielen-1259129.html
  13. kicker online
    https://www.kicker.de/ismael_weiter-fuer-frankreich-319984/artikel
  14. kicker online
    https://www.kicker.de/ismael_die-unerfuellte-liebe-320182/artikel
  15. Welt Online
    https://www.welt.de/print-welt/article170268/Klinsmann-erteilt-Ismael-eine-Absage.html
  16. "Togo want Ismael"
    https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/4491654.stm
  17. "Frenchman denies Togo approach"
    https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/4496704.stm
  18. "Ismaël neuer Sportmanager, Moravek neuer Zehner von Hannover 96"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20111008015223/http://www.neuepresse.de/Sport/Hannover-96/Uebersicht/Ismael-neuer-Sportmanager-Moravek-neuer-Zehner-von-Hannover-96
  19. "Hannover 96 II » Trainerhistorie"
    https://www.worldfootball.net/teams/te952/hannover-96-ii/all-managers/
  20. "Germany » Regionalliga Nord 2011/2012 » 34. Round"
    https://www.worldfootball.net/competition/ro23244/md34/results-and-standings/
  21. "Germany » Regionalliga Nord 2012/2013 » 34. Round"
    https://www.worldfootball.net/competition/ro30618/md34/results-and-standings/
  22. "VfL Wolfsburg II » Trainerhistorie"
    https://www.worldfootball.net/teams/te2087/vfl-wolfsburg-ii/all-managers/
  23. "Germany » Regionalliga Nord 2013/2014 » 34. Round"
    https://www.worldfootball.net/competition/ro39953/md34/results-and-standings/
  24. "VfL Wolfsburg II » Dates & results 2013/2014"
    https://www.worldfootball.net/teams/te2087/vfl-wolfsburg-ii/all-matches/
  25. "FCN bestätigt Ismaël als neuen Trainer"
    http://www.sueddeutsche.de/sport/-liga-fcn-bestaetigt-ismal-als-neuen-trainer-1.1987622
  26. "Aufsteiger Heidenheim erobert gleich die Spitze"
    https://www.welt.de/sport/fussball/2-bundesliga/article130845631/Aufsteiger-Heidenheim-erobert-gleich-die-Spitze.html
  27. Kicker
    https://www.kicker.de/1-fc-nuernberg/spielplan/2-bundesliga/2014-15
  28. "Nürnberg stellt Ismael frei"
    https://www.kicker.de/nuernberg-stellt-ismael-frei-615123/artikel
  29. "Wooten hievt den SVS am Club vorbei"
    https://www.kicker.de/sandhausen-gegen-nuernberg-2014-bundesliga-2407647/analyse
  30. "1. FC Nürnberg"
    https://www.kicker.de/1-fc-nuernberg/team-trainer/bundesliga/2013-14
  31. "Vorgänger wird Nachfolger: Ismael übernimmt Wolfsburg II"
    https://www.kicker.de/vorgaenger-wird-nachfolger_ismael-uebernimmt-wolfsburg-ii-628278/artikel
  32. Kicker
    https://www.kicker.de/regionalliga-nord/spieltag/2015-16/34/0
  33. Kicker
    https://www.kicker.de/vfl-wolfsburg-ii/spielplan/regionalliga-nord/2015-16
  34. "Wolfsburg and coach Dieter Hecking part ways"
    http://www.dw.com/en/wolfsburg-and-coach-dieter-hecking-part-ways/a-36070827
  35. Kicker
    https://www.kicker.de/vfl-wolfsburg/spielplan/bundesliga/2016-17
  36. "Wolfsburg confirm Valerien Ismael as new head coach after Freiburg win"
    http://www.espnfc.us/vfl-wolfsburg/story/2991513/wolfsburg-confirm-valerien-ismael-as-new-head-coach-after-freiburg-win
  37. Deutsche Welle
    http://www.dw.com/en/wolfsburg-dismiss-coach-valerien-ismael/a-37722979
  38. T-online
    https://www.t-online.de/region/id_83852136/valerien-ismael-wird-trainer-in-griechenland.html
  39. France Football
    https://www.francefootball.fr/news/Valerien-ismael-quitte-l-apollon-smyrnis-et-accuse-son-president-de-l-avoir-menace/935616
  40. "Herzlich Willkommen beim LASK Valérien Ismaël!"
    https://www.lask.at/herzlich-willkommen-beim-lask-valerien-ismael/
  41. Express.de
    https://web.archive.org/web/20200711153619/https://www.express.de/sport/fussball/nach-corona-eklat-ex-bayern-star-verliert-trainerposten-36999670
  42. Sky Sports
    https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11713/12309375/barnsley-owner-chien-lee-excited-to-see-fans-return-for-championship-play-off-semi-final-against-swansea
  43. "Albion appoint Valérien Ismaël as Head Coach"
    https://www.wba.co.uk/news/albion-appoint-valerien-ismael-head-coach
  44. West Bromwich Albion F.C
    https://www.wba.co.uk/news/club-statement-valerien-ismael
  45. "Beşiktaş'a Hoş Geldin Valérien Alexandre Ismaël"
    https://bjk.com.tr/tr/haber/83317/besiktasa-hos-geldin-valerien-alexandre-ismal.html
  46. www.watfordfc.com
    https://www.watfordfc.com/news/official-ismael-appointed-head-coach
  47. BBC Sport
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66680954
  48. www.rovers.co.uk
    https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2025/february/25/welcome-valerien-ismael/
  49. Neue Presse
    https://web.archive.org/web/20160304024541/http://www.neuepresse.de/Menschen/Mensch-Hannover/Bier-Fussball-Currywurst-Valerien-Ismael-liebt-Stammtischkultur
  50. Kicker
    https://www.kicker.de/regionalliga-nord/spieltag/2016-17/12/0
  51. SofaScore
    https://www.sofascore.com/manager/valerien-ismael/785178
  52. Soccerway
    https://uk.soccerway.com/teams/austria/lask-linz/176/
  53. Soccerway
    https://uk.soccerway.com/teams/england/barnsley-fc/716/
  54. Soccerway
    https://uk.soccerway.com/teams/england/west-bromwich-albion-football-club/678/
  55. Soccerway
    https://uk.soccerway.com/teams/turkey/besiktas-jk/2214/
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