Valerien Ismael is proving to be the perfect match for Barnsley

The decision to plump for the Frenchman as the replacement for Gerhard Struber has reaped a spectacular reward thus far.

Ahead of his first game in charge, the Reds were out of the Championship’s bottom three only on goal difference. At the start of 2021, they are just two places outside of the top six.

Ismael’s 15 games have yielded 10 wins – including a majestic 18 point-haul in December.

On the process behind his appointment, which is looking like an inspired move, Reds chief executive officer Murphy told The Yorkshire Post: “Valerien had been on our radar for a while. Obviously, through our recruitment system for both players and coaches, we follow the philosophy of the way we want to play and Valerien’s team last year in Austria – LASK Linz – was the second-best pressing team in the world.

“When the opportunity came to speak to him, it was pretty much a no-brainer.

“We weren’t really prepared for a new coach to come in so soon, but thankfully he was available and we had several conversations with him and were able to get it across the line.

“Thus far, it looks like we have made the right decision. He has hit the ground running and just has a personality and approach that is extremely suitable for what we are trying to do.”

The decision to identify a head coach conversant with a style that players are used to smacks of common sense.

Unfortunately, too many clubs adopt a scattergun approach to appointments. Not Barnsley, with the data-driven analytics playing a key part in their identification of Ismael.

A good reference from Struber, who knew about Ismael from his time in Austria also helped tip the scales, with the other main candidate being ex-Brondby and Leipzig head coach Alexander Zoringer.

Murphy added: “He has walked the walk on the field and he is extremely professional and very self-assured and strong in his convictions in terms of what he wants from his players.

“A young talented group look up to him and see that there are no frills, fuss and personality that sets him as bigger than what we are trying to do. They can take everything on board.

“He has said a few times that he has been able to hit the ground running because of our philosophy. He has tweaked the tactics a little bit, but the players are here for him to be successful.

“Gerhard had very positive things to say about him. Everyone we spoke to in Germany and Austria were highly complimentary about him and said we were getting a ‘no-nonsense’ straightforward, very methodical coach who was not going to stray from what he was trying to accomplish.

“There were nothing but good things presented to us about Valerien.”

The drive and hunger of Ismael to work in England further crystallised the decision.

Murphy added: “He said to me, Paul (Conway) and James Cryne that he was making a sacrifice to come here in the middle of the pandemic.

“He said he had always wanted to coach in England and like many others, he sees it as a Mecca of football. It is a dream of his; this is where he wants to be.

“We are very happy with the start, but very happy we have a coach who wants to be here for several years and see this club grow and succeed under him.”

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