Where are they now: Blackburn Rovers Premier League title winning team

LIVERPOOL V BLACKBUR

In May 1995, little Blackburn Rovers secured English football's top-flight crown for the first time since 1914. Kenny Dalglish guided his Lancashire side to Premier League glory after a 2-1 defeat at Anfield on the final day of the season, toppling Manchester United to become the second team ever to claim the Premier League title.

Fronted by chairman Jack Walker's millions, the successful local businessman financed Rovers topple of English football's most successful club in 1995 after three years of substantial investment in the team which was expertly managed by Kenny Dalglish and spearheaded by Alan Shearer. Manchester United's 1-1 draw against West Ham at Upton Park cemented Rovers' first Premier League title despite losing to United's bitter rivals, Liverpool.

Now rooted in League 1 following relegation from the Championship last season, it was time to start our historic Premier League series of articles by finding out where the infamous team of 1995 are now.


Tim Flowers - Goalkeeper

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Blackburn broke a British transfer record by paying £2.4million from Southampton - then a record fee for a goalkeeper - in November 1993.

Flowers would become a formidable presence for Rovers over the next six years and was instrumental in their title winning season. In the 42 games during the season, Flowers featured 39 times including the final day defeat to Liverpool.

But following his departure from Blackburn in 1999 to Leicester, Flowers ended his career with numerous loan spells - including a stint at Manchester City and Coventry City.

Following a coaching spell at former clubs Leicester and Manchester City, Flowers became Coventry's assistant manager alongside former teammate, Iain Dowie, in 2008. Coaching roles at Northampton, Nottingham Forest and now Fulham has kept the 11 time capped England goalkeeper active.

Tony Gale - Right Back

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Tony Gale challenging Matt le Tissier

Often forgotten about, Tony Gale was the primary right-back during the club's title success over Manchester United in 1995. The West Ham legend moved to Ewood Park during the summer of 1994 after ten years and 300 appearances for his boyhood club.

Despite only making 15 appearances for Rovers during the season, Gale provided solidity alongside a central-defensive pairing that would become synonymous with Blackburn's folklore. But what has Gale been up to since that fateful day in Merseyside?

The defender parted ways with Blackburn in the summer transfer window and moved back down to London to play for Crystal Palace after struggling to settle in the northwest.

Injuries halted his career before Gale took up media work and is regularly seen on Sky Sports. Gale took on a short-spell in semi-professional football by managing Walton Casuals as a caretaker in 2014.

Colin Hendry - Defender

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Colin Hendry

Commonly known as 'Braveheart', Colin Hendry is arguably the greatest player in Blackburn Rovers' history. The Scottish defender featured over 400 times for the club over two spells with the Premier League title victory securing a place in Rovers' history books.

His ability to organise the defence and provide security to a very fluid and attacking Blackburn side ensured Dalglish's team were difficult to defeat, regardless of the opposition. Hendry featured 38 times in 42 games that season and his role could only be described as the John Terry-esque.

Since retiring in 2003, Hendry has since dabbled into management with Blackpool and Clyde. Hendry resigned as Clyde manager in 2008 to assist his terminally ill wife Denise who tragically died in June 2009.

Hendry re-joined Blackburn Rovers in 2012 before leaving the club in 2014 after a stint as u21 assistant manager. Currently, Colin is found active on Twitter and not involved in football. Hendry was in trouble with Police and was charged with harassing and assaulting an ex-girlfriend in May 2015. He pleaded guilty as a result to a charge of harassment, while the assault charge was dropped.

Henning Berg - Central Defender

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The Norwegian defender proved to become one of the best pieces of business recorded in the early years of the Premier League. Berg formed a formidable and terrifying partnership alongside Colin Hendry at the heart of Dalglish's defence and was adored for his commitment and desire.

Berg's versatility and consistent performances for Blackburn earned him a move to Manchester United in 1997 for a fee of £5 million – at the time the joint-highest fee ever paid for a defender by a British club. Berg remained at Old Trafford for three years before returning to Blackburn under Graeme Souness.

Since retiring in 2004, Berg has become a manager in some of European football's lesser league. Norwegian side's Lyn and Lillestorm were both managed by Berg before he returned to Rovers for the third time in his career, but this time as manager.

57 days later, Berg was sacked before taking up positions with both Legia Warsaw and Hungarian club Székesfehérvár. Berg is currently scouting European football's top leagues hoping to obtain a coaching role following twelve months out of the game.

Graeme Le Saux - Left Back

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Known for his temper on the field, Le Saux was one of the first modern full-backs that supporters know today. Vastly underrated by media outlets, Le Saux was rarely unsteady for Rovers during his time at the club.

After an incident at Chelsea in 1993 where Le Saux threw his shirt to the ground after being substituted by boss Ian Porterfield, chairman Ken Bates decided to cash in on the left back who subsequently joined Blackburn for £700,000.

Le Saux was superb and consistent both defensively and offensively during his time at Blackburn - featuring 39 times and scored 3 goals during the 1994-1995 season. A return to Chelsea occurred in 1997 before retiring in 2005 after a two-year spell at Southampton.

The former England left-back has recently been seen campaigning against homophobia in football and debating political concern in Britain.

Stuart Ripley - Right Winger

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Stuart Ripley was considered by Alan Shearer as the most valuable player for him during his early years at Blackburn Rovers. The winger's ability to drive at defences and whip an inviting cross into the box often resulted in goals with one of the two forwards being on the end of Ripley's deliveries.

Ripley moved to Blackburn in 1992 after the club achieved promotion for a fee of £1.3million. Seven years at Middlesbrough had witnessed him become an international at u21 level, and Dalglish saw him as an important cog in his wheel for success.

Ripley spent six years at Ewood Park before leaving for Southampton in 1998. The two-time England international retired in 2002 and is now working as a solicitor after achieving a degree in Law and French.

Also, Ripley is a member of FA's Judicial Panel hearing cases relating to matters such as doping, safeguarding, agent activity and discrimination. His son Connor is a goalkeeper at his former club, Middlesbrough.

Mark Atkins - Central Midfielder

Mark Atkins of Blackburn Rovers and David Unsworth of Everton
Mark Atkins of Blackburn Rovers and David Unsworth of Everton

Mark Atkins was one of two players who survived the millions investment by chairman Jack Walker and remained in the team despite the influx of new players. Atkins joined Rovers in 1988, and after seven years at the club, he left for Wolverhampton Wanderers shortly after the side's title victory in 1995 - a fitting way for a legend to leave.

A no-nonsense midfielder, Atkins struck up a superb partnership with Tim Sherwood during that campaign as he often allowed Sherwood to become the creative spark in Dalglish's midfield.

In 2008, Atkins took on the role as manager of Northern Premier League side Matlock Town and remained in the position until 2014. He is currently out of the game but is regularly seen on match days at Ewood Park.

Tim Sherwood - Central Midfielder (Captain)

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Tim Sherwood may have been the man that stopped Blackburn Rovers signing Zinedine Zidane (yes, that's a real story) but the former Rovers midfielder remains the only man in the last 100 years to captain a team to top-flight glory.

Seven years at the club resulted in a move to Tottenham in 1999, but ultimately Sherwood was the first major name through the door when Walker flexed his financial muscles during the summer of 1992 as he signed from Norwich.

In 1993 after a successful season under his belt, Kenny Dalglish still wanted to sign more midfield players and French starlet Zidane was his top priority. When Dalglish requested Walker to sign the Frenchman, his response was simple, yet devastating, "why do you want Zidane when you have Tim Sherwood?".

Maybe Walker's comments in hindsight made sense, but the English international captained his side to Premier League glory less than two years later and was a significant member of the squad.

Since retiring in 2005, Sherwood has managed both Aston Villa and former club, Tottenham - roles he was both sacked from controversially. Sherwood is now the Director of Football at Swindon Town.

Jason Wilcox - Left Winger

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Remember when we told you about Mark Atkins surviving Walker's millions invested into the first-team? Jason Wilcox was the longest serving member of the Rovers team that was victorious in May 1995 having been at the club since 1989 and contributed with five goals from the wide area.

The left-winger came through the youth ranks at Ewood Park to cement his legacy among his local club - where he played for ten years and made over 400 appearances.

Wilcox moved to Leeds United in 1999 after being relegated with Rovers. A successful stint at Leeds occurred before retiring in 2006 at Blackpool.

The one cap wonder is now Manchester City's head of youth development at the City Football Academy after impressing during his time as the club's u18 manager.

Chris Sutton - Forward

Chris Sutton of Blackburn turns to celebrate scoring
Chris Sutton of Blackburn turns to celebrate scoring

When Kenny Dalglish requested chairman Jack Walker sign another forward to complement Alan Shearer, many thought the duo had lost their minds when the club paid £5.5million for Chris Sutton of Norwich City.

The 20-year-old had scored 35 goals in 104 appearances for Norwich before Blackburn signed him in July 1994. However, his contribution and partnership he would strike up with Alan Shearer ultimately proved invaluable. Scoring 15 goals in his debut season was a significant factor in the club's title victory.

Sutton became the catalyst for Blackburn after Shearer departed in 1996 but left Ewood Park after relegation in 1999 to join Chelsea. Stints at Celtic and Aston Villa also occurred before a role in management with Lincoln City lasted less than a year.

Sutton is now a regular panellist on BT Sport for the football score centre channel seen on match days in both English football and Champions League nights and is known for his outlandish views.

Alan Shearer - Forward

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The second part of the infamous SAS partnership that remains the most formidable strike force to grace Premier League football. 34 goals in 42 games for Shearer during the season remains a Premier League record still untouched to this very day.

The formidable striker recorded his best goals-to-games ratio during his time at Blackburn and is forever remembered as a Rovers hero and lived up to his £3.2million record transfer fee when he was signed from Southampton in 1992.

Rovers' hearts were broken in 1996 when Newcastle signed Shearer for £15million - then a world-record fee. Chairman Jack Walker was so desperate to keep Shearer in 1996, that the chairman offered the England captain the managerial role at the club - despite being only 25-years-old.

Shearer went on to become Newcastle's all-time record scorer and remained at the club for ten years before returning as manager in 2009. He resigned after the club's relegation from the Premier League, and despite the opportunity to manage Blackburn, Shearer has remained doing punditry work for the BBC where he earns a staggering £400,000 annual salary.

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Edited by Anuradha Santhanam
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