BLACKBURN Rovers have confirmed the appointment of former Arsenal midfielder John Jensen as their new assistant manager.
Jensen, who scored for Denmark in the final of Euro 92, will work alongside manager Steve Kean after agreeing an initial contract until the end of the season.
The 45-year-old, who earned 69 caps and made 130 appearances for the Gunners said: “I think I can bring knowledge and experience to the job.
John Jensen
“I also believe I can help players become better individually and the team to improve as a collective unit.”
Jensen has previously been an assistant to former Danish star Michael Laudrup both with the Denmark national team and Spanish side Getafe.
In his playing days he was famous for scoring in Denmark’s 1992 European Championship final win over Germany.
He added: “From what I see and hear this looks like a very exciting time for Blackburn Rovers, with the new owners and a new manager.”
Manager Kean, who took over from former boss Sam Allardyce in December, said: “John has a wealth of experience, both here and abroad, and he is very much focused on the development of players.
“His views and philosophies on football dovetail with mine and he has also shown himself to be a very loyal assistant, a massively important factor for me. I am delighted to welcome him aboard.”
Although he was jovially mocked by Arsenal fans for his lack of goals, he was a key part of the Gunners side that won the FA Cup and League Cup in his first season at the club in 1992-93 and the European Cup Winners’ Cup a year later.
After leaving London Jensen became a player-manager at Danish team Herfolge BK where he led the club to the Danish Superliga title for the first time in their history.
His most recent job before moving to Ewood Park was as manager of Danish side Randers.
Jensen becomes the first appointment at Blackburn since the club was taken over by new owners Venky’s in November.
Meanwhile, promising young striker Nick Blackman has signed a new two-and-a-half year deal keeping him at the club until 2013.
The 21-year-old returned to the club this month after a successful loan spell at Motherwell where he scored 10 goals in 18 appearances.
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Blackburn Rovers assistant manager John Jensen is to leave Ewood Park.
The 46-year-old former Arsenal and Denmark midfielder joined manager Steve Kean’s coaching staff in January.
A Rovers statement read: “The club would like to thank John for his efforts over the past nine months and wish him all the best for the future.”
Blackburn are 18th in the Premier League table, having picked up only four points from their opening six games of the season.
Jensen has previously had spells in charge of Danish clubs Herfolge BK and Randers, as well as being assistant to Michael Laudrup with both the Denmark national team and Spanish side Getafe.
When he joined Rovers, initially on a six-month deal, he became Kean’s first appointment after the Scot was elevated to manager following the departure of Sam Allardyce.
Rovers avoided relegation from the Premier League on the final day of last season and Jensen signed a contract extension in May.
However, Blackburn have endured a troubled start to this campaign and some fans staged a demonstration against Kean before the fixture against Arsenal, a game that Rovers went on to win 4-3 to record their only league win of the season so far.
Victory over Leyton Orient gave Blackburn progression to the fourth round of the Carling Cup, but a 3-1 defeat at Newcastle on Saturday left them in the Premier League relegation zone.
Blackburn Rovers owners are looking to find India’s very own Wayne Rooney after revealing a football academy will be set up in their home city of Pune.
Venky’s hope the academy will open in a year’s time and former India skipper Baichung Bhutia will be at the helm with the support of foreign coaches who will run it.
Anuradha Desai, chairperson of Venky’s, said yesterday: “We will have the best football academy in the country and it will be in Pune for sure.
“If India can produce a Tendulkar in cricket, why not a Beckham or a Rooney?”
Meanwhile former Denmark international John Jensen is still expected to be named as Blackburn Rovers’ assistant manager, with an announcement possibly coming today.