Chris Samba has taken up a coaching role within the Rovers Academy.

The Rovers favourite is back at the club where he spent five years as a player, chalking up 186 appearances between 2007 and 2012.

Samba will be working with the Under-15s, assisting another ex-Rovers defender, Andy Taylor in helping to guide the next generation of stars at Rovers.

The 37-year-old had been working at the club on a voluntary basis for the last six months in order to gain the qualifications required to take on a full-time position.

And Samba, who joined the club from Hertha Berlin, says he’s delighted to be back.

He said: “I had to learn to play football and now I have to learn to coach.

“Everything is new for me. I have to start right from the start and take it step by step. It’s not something that you just walk in and know what to do straight away. It’s a totally different type of talent.

“On the pitch, it was about Chris Samba the player. Now, it’s about developing my communication skills and giving the best information possible to these young players, so that hopefully they can play at Ewood Park one day, like I did.”

Samba hung up his boots in 2018 following a spell at Aston Villa. He also spent time in English football with QPR.