Former West Ham United, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick has penned a new three-year deal to remain as head coach at Middlesbrough, the club have confirmed.
Carrick moved to the Riverside Stadium midway through the 2022/23 campaign when Boro were down near the bottom of the Championship following Chris Wilder’s departure from the club. In his debut season with the Teesside outfit, the ex-England international guided the club to fourth in England’s second tier, claiming a spot in the play-offs, although his side eventually bowed out in the semi-finals to Coventry City.
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The 42-year-old was less successful in his attempts to lift Middlesbrough into another promotion battle this season. After a tricky start to the campaign, Boro eventually finished in eighth place, four points behind Norwich City in sixth but his ability to improve players on the pitch has been one of the most impressive components of his job at the Riverside so far, elevating talents such as Chuba Akpom and Morgan Rogers who were eventually sold for a combined total of £20 million over the past 12 months.
It was reported earlier in the season that Carrick had piqued the interest of clubs in the top-flight, including Crystal Palace, who were weighing up a list of candidates to replace Roy Hodgson before landing on former Europa League winner Oliver Glasner.
Nevertheless, the Middlesbrough hierarchy have ensured that they move swiftly to tie the highly-rated coach down to a new deal to fend off any future Premier League suitors, handing him a three-year contract extension which he has duly accepted. Speaking in a club statement announcing the news, Carrick admitted he is “really happy” about staying in charge at Boro.
“I’m really happy about it,” the five-time Premier League winner said.
“I’ve always been quite calm about it. I think having that attachment, that trust and that belief within the club is really important.
“We’ve certainly got that – that’s what still gives me the great feeling that I had when I first walked through the door.
“It feels like a big step as a headline, as a statement, but really it doesn’t change anything I do or how I approach it, it just carries on what we’re trying to achieve.”
Writer’s View
Carrick had a tremendous playing career, emerging from the academy at West Ham United to eventually play for Spurs and, most notably, Manchester United where he became one of the most decorated English players of all time.
However, he is proving to be an excellent coach in the Championship and his knack for improving players has landed him on the list of numerous clubs in the Premier League. Middlesbrough have made a wise decision by tying him down for another three years at the very least.
Deputy Head of Writing
