Jordan Rhodes explains new Blackburn Rovers after retiring

The talismanic striker hung up his boots after an illustrious career. Rhodes netted just shy of 250 goals across 10 clubs, with 85 of those coming in 169 games at Ewood Park.

That made the forward an immensely popular figure at Rovers, with his partnership alongside Rudy Gestede in 2014/15 a memorable one.

The Rovers strike force have now reunited in backroom roles at Ewood Park after Rhodes was named Loan Manager. He will be responsible for helping Academy graduates make their first steps into first-team football away from Rovers.

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"It's great to be back, albeit in a different capacity," he told RoversTV.

"I walked through the doors this morning and I immediately felt happy to be here.

"The role is a really nice bridging gap between finishing up and then that next life. It was something I was very keen to go into, post-football, the mentoring side.

"Making sure players have what they need, to give advice and it's important in this modern-day world where social media has such scrutiny, players have that extra support system.

"It will be a bit new to me, a case of learning on the job to a certain extent but I think there are things that will come naturally to me. I had four loans myself and I encountered plenty of things.

"Each and every player will be very different in their make-up of what they demand and what they prefer so it'll be getting to know the players and what works for them,.

"Ultimately, they'll be the boss in the grand scheme of things, so it'll just be a case of navigating and seeing some of the stuff, giving them the options and the support, the love and the guidance to make sure that they can thrive in their clubs wherever they happen to find themselves in."

Rhodes had four loans in his career and understands the importance of the development needed to make the grade at first-team level. Players often stress the differences between Under-21s and senior football, meaning minutes elsewhere can be incredibly important.

Given Rovers' proud history of developing Academy talents, it makes the role of loan spells even more crucial to prepare them for first-team opportunities.

"I'll touch back on my own personal development; it was something that I really benefited from and hopefully I can help and facilitate them going out for that development," he said.

"I can see already in the first team at this moment in time, might bypass that sort of system and go straight into the first team, which is brilliant. It's all gearing towards what can be of benefit for Blackburn Rovers.

"Ultimately, that's what the staff's there to do; to facilitate those players and give them the best opportunity to be able to thrive for the first team ideally, but ultimately for their development and what makes them be the player that they can become."

Accepting the role brings the curtain on Rhodes' fantastic career, as the Championship's second-highest scorer. After being released by Blackpool at the end of the season, it was a tough decision to take but one he's excited about.

"It has to end sometime, and I've really enjoyed it, football has been very kind to me," Rhodes reflected.

"Obviously, I've got a lot of thanks to a lot of people, family and friends, coaches over the years, to have given me this opportunity to have lived out this dream.

"Football's been very kind to me, it's gone better than I could ever have imagined.

"Now being able to do this gives me opportunities to stay within football, watch and mentor and guide, Football's had a massive part in my life since I was born, obviously my dad doing it, so now I'm still playing a part professionally.

"It's not the playing side of stuff, and we'll always miss that, I think all players will miss that but what a great way to follow on to the next chapter.

"This club played a massive part in my career, nothing but good memories and good times, I'm sure some that I've not even thought about will crop up in these next month or two.

"I'm really looking forward to getting to work and hopefully getting to know the players a little bit better before guiding them on the loans at different clubs.

"I did one or two things over the last two or three years to open the possibilities, keeping as many doors open to whatever they might walk into.

"I was always kind of keen to work outside of the playing side of things, just to have that sort of stimulation, and yeah, what a lovely fit to it, I'm really looking forward to it."

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