New Barnsley coach Valerien Ismael attracted by Reds' style

Valerien Ismael is excited to return to English football, but he was keen to do so with a team that plays the way Barnsley do.
By Stuart Rayner
Published 26th Oct 2020, 13:06 GMT
Updated 26th Oct 2020, 19:56 GMT
NEW COACH: Valerian Ismael takes charge of Barnsley for the first time on TuesdayNEW COACH: Valerian Ismael takes charge of Barnsley for the first time on Tuesday
NEW COACH: Valerian Ismael takes charge of Barnsley for the first time on Tuesday

The Frenchman was targeted by the Oakwell hierarchy because he fits into the Oakwell blueprint, and worked alongside predecessor Gerhard Struber at Hannover 96, where Ismael was in charge of the second team and the Austrian ran the under-19s.

Former Bundesliga striker Joseph Laumann will replace Wolfgang Luisser, but otherwise Ismael will slip into the existing coaching staff, working closely with Adam Murray, a coach under Struber and his predecessor Daniel Stendel, and will not reinvent the wheel.

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“Barnsley want to play my way of football, I believe in this way – high-pressing, intensity, vertical game,” he said. “It was very important for my next step to come to a club that wants to play this way.

It was the same when I went to LASK, it was very important to say I believe in this way of football and it's very important for me that the club does.”

Former centre-back Ismael had a short spell as a Crystal Palace centre-back in 1998, and English football holds a special appeal for him.

“It's something special for a French guy because as a player or a coach we are always interested in English football,” he said.

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“The spirit, the atmosphere is something special. That's why when I received this offer it was one of the reasons why I came here.

“The Championship is a tough league. I saw the last game (a 1-1 draw at Millwall) but I've seen a lot before and with lots of duels, high balls and fights.”

Ismael has worked in Germany, Greece and in Austria, where his last game as manager of LASK was against Manchester United in the Europa League.

His first job is to keep Barnsley in the Championship. His first chance to secure the Reds' first win of the season comes at home to Queens Park Rangers on Tuesday.

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Related topics:Valerien IsmaelBarnsleyDaniel StendelAdam Murray

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