Jon Dahl Tomasson began his rivalry with Vincent Kompany within hours of arriving at Blackburn by going head-to-head with him for a flat.
Tomasson viewed a property on Wednesday and was told by the estate agent that Burnley ’s new boss Kompany is also keen. Blackburn’s director of football, Gregg Broughton, who accompanied the new Rovers manager, said: “As soon as he arrived at Blackburn, we went flat hunting in Lancashire.
“The estate agent told us it was between him and Vincent, who also wants it. I suggested they flat share, but that’s not going to happen!”
Tomasson’s appointment at Ewood Park and Kompany’s at Turf Moor add spice to the clubs’ fierce rivalry, which has been on hold for the six years the Clarets were in the Premier League. The East Lancashire foes will be vying for promotion and Tomasson says he is relishing going up against Kompany and Burnley.
“Yeah, he was a great player,” said the ex-Denmark star. “He worked in Belgium and I don’t know him that well as a manager. To be honest, I love these derbies, they give me energy. I will love that this season, not only me, but the fans too.
“I’m really looking forward to those games and I understand Burnley is really not the thing at Rovers.”
Tomasson, 45, faced Blackburn during his 12 months at Newcastle under Kenny Dalglish in the late 90s and he knows how desperate Rovers fans are to see their club back in the Premier League.
“I was on the bench probably for that game!” he joked, in reference to his less-than-successful spell with Newcastle, when he managed just four goals.
“I haven’t spoken with anybody about Blackburn. Everybody knows Blackburn, a great club with a great tradition. Kenny and Shearer in ‘95, I think they did pretty well!
“Of course, they are also a club who are quite hungry to go in a special direction and create success.”
Blackburn chose Tomasson because he won back-to-back titles with Malmo in his two seasons and led them to the Champions League group stages last year, at Rangers’ expense.
The former AC Milan forward and 2003 Champions League winner achieved this on a limited budget by developing players.
Rovers hope he can work his magic again and he is their most high-profile appointment since Graeme Souness in 2000 in a sign of owners Venky’s new ambition.
“The fans, the players, they’re always dreaming about going up to the Premier League, of course,” he said.
“It’s the best league in the world, so, of course, are are dreaming and we will work hard, but we will also work with a clever mind.
“We can’t buy players like the rest of the clubs, but one thing we can do, and promise to do, is work hard and be better at our jobs than our rivals, to create value on the pitch and to grow as a team and a club. So my task is to develop the team, develop the club in the right direction.”
