It’s 10 years since Venkys bought Blackburn Rovers
Here’s a thread on the absolute chaos of their first 2.5 years in charge:
Here’s a thread on the absolute chaos of their first 2.5 years in charge:
Nov 19th, 2010: Venkys’ takeover goes through with the new owners announcing their aim to secure Champions League football
Sam Allardyce is promised a £5million transfer budget as part of the plans 💰
It’s rumoured Venkys don’t know relegation is ‘a thing’
Sam Allardyce is promised a £5million transfer budget as part of the plans 💰
It’s rumoured Venkys don’t know relegation is ‘a thing’
🗣️ “We will absolutely respect the Jack Walker legacy… to ensure Blackburn Rovers remain one of the best-run clubs in the Premier League"
Narrator: It did not remain one of the best-run clubs in the Premier League 🥴
Narrator: It did not remain one of the best-run clubs in the Premier League 🥴
Dec 13th, 2010: Blackburn sack Sam Allardyce
Venky’s reveal they have spoken to Diego Maradona about becoming the new manager
Dec 22nd, 2010: Steve Kean is confirmed as manager until the end of the season
Jan 11th, 2011: Kean is given a three-year contract
Venky’s reveal they have spoken to Diego Maradona about becoming the new manager
Dec 22nd, 2010: Steve Kean is confirmed as manager until the end of the season
Jan 11th, 2011: Kean is given a three-year contract
Jan 2011: Rovers are linked with Ronaldinho but sign 19-year-old Rubén Rochina
The fee is reported as being £372,000 while the player’s agent received £1.65m
Mauro Formica signs from Newell’s Old Boys
Kean compares him to a “young Batistuta” but doesn't play him for 6 months
The fee is reported as being £372,000 while the player’s agent received £1.65m
Mauro Formica signs from Newell’s Old Boys
Kean compares him to a “young Batistuta” but doesn't play him for 6 months
Feb 2011: Members of the Rovers board write to Venkys to politely ask ‘wtf is going on?’
Chairman John Williams leaves the club after 14 years - which included 10 consecutive PL seasons, 3 European qualifications, a League Cup victory and 2 FA Cup semi-finals 😢
Chairman John Williams leaves the club after 14 years - which included 10 consecutive PL seasons, 3 European qualifications, a League Cup victory and 2 FA Cup semi-finals 😢
Venkys try to appease fans: "The manager is very good… the more you spend time with him the more impressive he becomes.”
Rovers win 5 of their 21 league matches under Kean but survive with a 3-2 win at Wolves on the final day
Rovers win 5 of their 21 league matches under Kean but survive with a 3-2 win at Wolves on the final day
Blackburn sign Myles Anderson, son of agent Jerome, who Kean says is the next Chris Smalling
Anderson fails to meet expectations, making 0 appearances
Rovers also sign David Goodwillie, who Kean calls a “young Wayne Rooney”
Goodwillie scores 2 goals in 28 games
Anderson fails to meet expectations, making 0 appearances
Rovers also sign David Goodwillie, who Kean calls a “young Wayne Rooney”
Goodwillie scores 2 goals in 28 games
Another new signing, 28-year-old Bruno Ribeiro, joins from the Brazilian lower leagues on a three-year deal
Kean says he’s been nicknamed ‘Denis Irwin’ at the training ground
Ribeiro doesn’t make a single PL appearance
PSA: This is still on ebay
ebay.co.uk/itm/Bruno-Ribe…
Kean says he’s been nicknamed ‘Denis Irwin’ at the training ground
Ribeiro doesn’t make a single PL appearance
PSA: This is still on ebay
ebay.co.uk/itm/Bruno-Ribe…
Sept 2011: After losing the opening 3 games, Rovers fans stage their first protest of Venkys' ownership and Kean’s management before the home game against Arsenal
Arsenal somehow contrive to lose 4-3, giving Kean his 6th win in 26 games 🤦♂️
Arsenal somehow contrive to lose 4-3, giving Kean his 6th win in 26 games 🤦♂️
Nov 2011: The club bans fans from bringing banners into Ewood Park, so supporters raise £1,000 to fly the message ‘Steve Kean Out’ over the stadium
The plane circles for half an hour but Kean says he “didn’t notice it”
The plane circles for half an hour but Kean says he “didn’t notice it”
Nov 23rd, 2011: Rovers have won one game all season but Kean signs a new contract on improved terms
“The fact that the owners have talked to me about a new contract means that they can see what we are building here.”
Blackburn remain bottom of the league 💩
“The fact that the owners have talked to me about a new contract means that they can see what we are building here.”
Blackburn remain bottom of the league 💩
Dec 19th, 2011: Scott Dann ruptures a testicle against West Brom
Dec 31st, 2011: Bottom-placed Blackburn somehow beat Man Utd at Old Trafford 3-2
The game also has major repercussions for United, who eventually miss out on the title to City on goal difference
Paul Pogba decides to leave after Fergie picks Rafael ahead of him in midfield
The game also has major repercussions for United, who eventually miss out on the title to City on goal difference
Paul Pogba decides to leave after Fergie picks Rafael ahead of him in midfield
Jan 2012: Blackburn release club captain Ryan Nelsen, who immediately joins Champions League chasing Spurs
Kean says “there is no way” fellow defender Chris Samba is leaving
Samba leaves two weeks later 👋
Kean says “there is no way” fellow defender Chris Samba is leaving
Samba leaves two weeks later 👋
April 29th, 2012: Rovers lose 2-0 to Spurs, setting a new Premier League record by failing to have a single shot - on or off target - in the entire game
Spurs boss Harry Redknapp describes the tactic as “unusual”
Spurs boss Harry Redknapp describes the tactic as “unusual”
May 7th, 2012: With 8 defeats in their final 9 games, Blackburn are relegated following a 1-0 loss at home to Wigan
Fans release a chicken on to the pitch during the game which striker Yakubu has to remove 🐔
Fans release a chicken on to the pitch during the game which striker Yakubu has to remove 🐔
Summer 2012: Despite rapidly imploding from a stable, top 10 Premier League club to suffering relegation for the first time in 11 years, Venkys decide to stick with Kean and his 22% league win rate
Rovers break the Championship transfer record by spending £8m on Jordan Rhodes
They sell midfield regular and future World Cup winner Steven N’Zonzi to Stoke for just £3m
Top scorer Yakubu also leaves for just £1m to China
They sell midfield regular and future World Cup winner Steven N’Zonzi to Stoke for just £3m
Top scorer Yakubu also leaves for just £1m to China
Rovers sign six Portuguese players - 5 complete unknowns and Nuno Gomes
Danny Murphy, Leon Best and Dickson Euthu all arrive on enormous reported wages. They all depart within 18 months
Danny Murphy, Leon Best and Dickson Euthu all arrive on enormous reported wages. They all depart within 18 months
June 18th, 2012: Blackburn appoint Shebby Singh as ‘global adviser’
Singh is known for his outspoken opinions as a pundit, including his insistence that Liverpool should play Steven Gerrard at RB
Aug 13th, 2012: Singh apologises for calling Morten Gamst Pedersen a “pensioner”
Singh is known for his outspoken opinions as a pundit, including his insistence that Liverpool should play Steven Gerrard at RB
Aug 13th, 2012: Singh apologises for calling Morten Gamst Pedersen a “pensioner”
Sept 2012: Fan protests continue
Sept 29th: Kean finally leaves, saying he is “forced to resign” as Blackburn manager
Venkys are said to be “very disappointed” by his decision
Sept 29th: Kean finally leaves, saying he is “forced to resign” as Blackburn manager
Venkys are said to be “very disappointed” by his decision
Oct 31st, 2012: Venkys hire Rovers legend Henning Berg as Kean’s replacement
Berg oversees just one win in 10 matches and is sacked after 57 days
He also storms out of the Xmas party after being forced to wear a Michael Jackson wig
Berg oversees just one win in 10 matches and is sacked after 57 days
He also storms out of the Xmas party after being forced to wear a Michael Jackson wig
Jan 11th, 2013: Michael Appleton quits Blackpool after just 65 days to become the new Blackburn manager
March 19th, 2013: Appleton is sacked after 67 days
March 19th, 2013: Appleton is sacked after 67 days
May 2013: Blackburn survive another relegation battle to finish 17th
Venkys haven’t been back to Ewood Park since
Venkys haven’t been back to Ewood Park since
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