Valerien Ismael is the new head coach of Barnsley Football Club.
The Frenchman has agreed a three-year contract and is due to watch the Reds' match at Millwall tomorrow, in which Adam Murray will be caretaker, before taking his first training session on Monday ahead of Tuesday's home game with Queens Park Rangers.
Ismael, 45, played as a centre-back for French clubs Strasbourg and Lens then Premier League club Crystal Palace in 1998 before finishing his career in Germany with Werder Bremen, Bayern Munich and Hannover 96.
He has been a coach with various German clubs, taking charge of the first teams of both Nurnberg and Wolfsburg for short spells. He was head coach of Greek club Apollon Smyrnis for one game in 2018 then Austrian club LASK Linz last season where he worked with new Barnsley striker Dominik Frieser before being sacked in July.
Chief executive Dane Murphy told the club website: “In Valérien we have a young, ambitious coach who already possesses a wealth of footballing experience across the continent. Throughout the recruitment process, he was the standout candidate and his style of play will complement our philosophy.Valérien is aware of the quality within our squad and with his guidance, the board believe that he is well suited to continuing our players’ development whilst simultaneously solidifying our position in the Sky Bet Championship."
Ismael added: “I would like to thank Paul Conway and Dane Murphy for the open and productive dialogue that we've had up to this point, and for the great chance that they have given me to manage in English football as the coach of Barnsley FC.”
“I feel a great deal of excitement about the new position and the new challenges that it brings, and I can't wait to get to know the team, my coaching staff, everyone who works at the club, and of course the Reds fans at Oakwell too, so that together we can get started and hit the ground running!”
