Carlo Ancelotti 'phones Blackburn Rovers' to suggest next manager appointment

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has reportedly urged Championship side Blackburn Rovers to appoint Duncan Ferguson as their new boss.

Blackburn are without a manager after long-serving boss Tony Mowbray left by mutual consent. Ferguson is the favourite for the job, with Gareth Ainsworth, Damien Johnson, Carlos Carvalhal, Michael Carrick and Roy Keane also in the frame.

Ferguson worked with Ancelotti at Everton during the Italian's 18-month spell in charge at Goodison Park, before he left to re-join Real Madrid last summer. That proved to be a wise decision, as Real won La Liga, the Champions League and the Supercopa de Espana this season.

Ferguson is still at Goodison Park, working under Frank Lampard as a first-team coach. Yet the Scot, who's twice stepped in as Everton's caretaker, could be on the verge of securing his first permanent role in management thanks to Ancelotti.

According to The Sun, Ancelotti called Blackburn to provide a glowing reference of Ferguson. It's believed the Everton legend was not being considered for the Blackburn role until the former AC Milan and Chelsea manager picked up the phone from Madrid.

Ancelotti even reportedly offered Ferguson the chance to join him at Real, yet Ferguson turned the opportunity down to stay at Everton. It's unclear whether Ferguson would even take the Blackburn job if offered, such is his affinity with the Merseyside club.

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Blackburn are one of English football's most famous clubs - winning three top-flight titles, six FA Cups, the EFL Cup, Full Members Cup, Community Shield and FA Youth Cup. They famously won the Premier League in 1994-95, pipping Manchester United to the title.

Blackburn have not played in the Premier League since suffering relegation under Steve Kean in 2011-12. They slipped into League One in 2016-17 but won promotion at the first attempt under Mowbray, finishing second with 96 points.

Mowbray was hoping to lead Blackburn into the Premier League this season. A 1-0 home win against Middlesbrough in January sent them second in the table but a poor run of four wins from their final 18 Championship fixtures saw them finish in eighth.

"Firstly, I'd like to thank the owners and the board for giving me the opportunity to manage a football club that is steeped in such great history and tradition. It's been a real privilege to have been the manager of Blackburn Rovers," said Mowbray on leaving.

"I'd also like to say thank you to all the supporters and all the amazing staff at the club... it's been a wonderful experience to bring my values to a football club over a five-year period and to create an environment where people enjoy coming into work every day and where players feel like they can improve every day.

"I've really enjoyed it, it's been very rewarding and I thank everybody for coming along on the journey with me, but I feel as though the time is right to move on and let somebody else have a go. I wish this amazing group of young players and the club in general every success going forward."