Middlesbrough have parted ways with manager Aitor Karanka.
Former Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka
Aitor Karanka has taken to Twitter in order to send messages to fans after he parted ways with Middlesbrough this morning.
The Spaniard became Boro manager back in November 2013, arriving at the Riverside Stadium having been Jose Mourinho’s assistant manager at Real Madrid.
A three-time Champions League during his playing days with Real Madrid, Karanka arrived with a strong reputation as a player, but his only prior managerial role was with Spain’s Under-16’s between 2008 and 2010.
Boro were sitting 16th in the Championship when they sacked Tony Mowbray, and they took the left-field move to land Karanka as his replacement – but by May 2015, they were in the play-off final for a place in the Premier League, only to lose to Norwich City.
Karanka re-tooled his Boro side last season, and he was rewarded with automatic promotion back to the top flight for the first time since their relegation in 2009, but the return to the Premier League hasn’t been ideal.
Boro have been tight at the back, conceding just 30 goals in 27 Premier League games – the best defensive record outside the top seven – but they have struggled going forward, finding the net just 19 times.
Ex-Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka
Middlesbrough’s lack of goals have seen them win just four games this season, and after a run of just four points in the last ten games, Karanka has left the club by mutual consent this morning.
After the news was announced, Karanka took to Twitter to send messages to fans, thanking the club for a ‘wonderful opportunity’ as well as the fans, players and staff on Teesside.
Karanka added that Boro will always hold a special place in his heart, and wished the club the best for the future as he leaves the club ahead of this weekend’s game against Manchester United.
Do you think Boro will stay up without Karanka?
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