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Middlesbrough Manager Search: Who Could Succeed Michael Carrick?
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Middlesbrough Manager Search: Who Could Succeed Michael Carrick?

Middlesbrough Manager Search: Who Could Succeed Michael Carrick?

Following the departure of Michael Carrick, Middlesbrough are in the market for a new manager.

Over his three years at the club, Carrick boasted a win percentage of 46%, leading Boro to 4th and 8th-placed finishes in his first two campaigns. However, after falling to 10th, Carrick’s time at the helm came to a sad end.

Names such as Steven Gerrard and Gary O’Neil have been linked with the job, but as two months remain before the start of the season, the club have reportedly narrowed down their managerial search to three candidates.

But who are these managers, and what could they bring to the Riverside Stadium?

Steve Cooper

An incredibly successful manager in England’s second tier in recent years, Steve Cooper has been linked with several Championship jobs after being out of work since November.

The Welsh manager began the 2024/25 campaign as the boss of Premier League outfit Leicester City. However, following a poor string of results, the manager was dismissed despite the Foxes being outside of the relegation zone.

Within his months out of the dug-out, Cooper has been working with UEFA as a Technical Observer. The former Leicester City manager’s role included picking the Man of the Match for Champions League games and taking notes of new tactical ideas.

For a team like Boro, who want to challenge for a play-off spot, Cooper could be a perfect option, having been the mastermind behind Nottingham Forest’s promotion in 2022.

Taking over from Chris Hughton, Cooper was appointed as Forest manager, with the club in the league’s relegation spots before leading the Nottinghamshire club to a record of one defeat in 13 games throughout the mid-point of the season.

Forest rose into the division's play-off race come the end of the season, and Cooper led his team to Wembley, defeating Huddersfield Town and promoting Nottingham Forest to the Premier League for the first time since 1999.

The former Forest boss could be a perfect option for Boro, having the ability to lead them into the race for the play-off’s and having the experience to handle big occasions.

Rob Edwards

A year or two ago, the stock for Rob Edwards was at an all-time high, with teams wanting to appoint the Welshman following his success with Luton Town in the Premier League. A young and motivational coach, following a spell out of the game, Edwards is now poised to move back to the second tier.

The brains behind Forest Green’s promotion to League One in 2022, Edwards had begun to make a name for himself before moving to the Championship and Watford in May 2022.

Edwards’ reign at Watford would not last long - being sacked in September 2023 after winning three out of his first ten games in charge.

The Welshman then had a period out of football before being appointed as Luton Town boss, the major rivals of his former club. Unlike his spell at Watford, Edwards and Luton seemed to be a match made in heaven.

Within his first year at the club, Edwards guided the Hatters to the Premier League as they defeated Coventry City on penalties in the play-off final.

Despite being considered a small fish in a big pond and having financial difficulties compared to other clubs. Luton were fantastic in the top-flight - being narrowly relegated back to the Championship.

However, it was a nightmare return to the second tier as Edwards departed the club by mutual consent, and the Hatters were relegated to League One.

For Middlesbrough, Edwards is a similar option to Carrick, and compared to Cooper, the Welshman might be viewed as a younger and more engaging coach with a larger upside.

Danny Rohl

The final manager that Middlesbrough are reportedly looking at is Danny Rohl. A 36-year-old coach, who due to financial issues at Sheffield Wednesday, looks set to depart his role at Hillsborough this summer.

Rohl started his coaching career with smaller roles at RB Leipzig, Southampton, and Bayern Munich before becoming the assistant manager for the German national team.

His appointment at Sheffield Wednesday was the German’s first managerial job, being appointed in October 2023 and becoming the youngest manager in the English Football League.

Rohl’s task at Hillsborough in his first season looked to be near impossible, with Wednesday sitting deep within the relegation spots. However, Rohl was phenomenal, securing survival on the final day with a 2-0 win over Sunderland.

The German penned a new contract with the Owls in the summer until 2027 and, in his second season, the former German national team assistant put Wednesday into the Championship’s play-off contention. However, Rohl was once again hampered by the financial restraints on the club as Rohl’s side finished 12th in the 2024/25 season.

Nevertheless, Rohl might not have the experience of guiding a team to the Premier League. Despite that, he has quickly established himself as one of the most exciting coaches in the second tier, and Middlesbrough might wonder what the 36-year-old could do with a larger budget.

The style of Rohl also perfectly compliments the Northern side, with the German playing an energetic and dynamic system that is built upon pressing the opposition. With players such as Tommy Conway, Finn Azaz, and Morgan Whittaker in their attack, the Wednesday boss could turn Boro’s attack into a powerhouse.

Who Should Boro Appoint?

In terms of a shortlist, Boro seem to have picked up a brilliant trio, with the three managerial candidates having different pros and cons. However, in terms of the best option for Middlesbrough, Rob Edwards deserves another shot in the Championship and the Riverside Stadium could be a great home for him.

Edwards is a huge risk, especially after his previous season with Luton, but while still at a young age and being an inspiring character, the 42-year-old could get talents like Whittaker and Azaz to buy into his philosophies, similar to what the Welshman achieved at Luton Town.

Therefore, Football Park believes that Rob Edwards is the perfect candidate to be handed a seat in the dugout for Middlesbrough.

Benji Kosartiyer
Journalist
Josh Wyatt-Jones

Content Writer

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