The former Middlesbrough boss has been heavily linked with the vacant managerial position at Leeds United, but no decision has been made yet.
Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka
Former Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka is supposedly very relaxed about the prospect of returning to management, and will only do so when the right opportunity presents itself, as reported by BBC Sport.
The 43-year-old, who was assistant manager to Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid – a club Karanka played for and won the Champions League three times with – has been out of work since his dismissal from Boro in mid-March, and there has been a lot of speculation about where he would end up next.
Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka
The strongest link, as reported by The Mirror, was that Karanka would effectively do a job swap with Garry Monk, who surprisingly resigned as Leeds United boss at the end of the season, despite having a new contract offer on the table.
This was intensified recently as Leeds hired Victor Ortiz – a known friend of Karanka’s – as director of football, as reported by The Mirror, which has been seen as a further attempt to prise the former Real Madrid man to Elland Road.
Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka
However – for now, at least – Karanka seems very relaxed about proceedings and is refusing to jump into anything which he could later regret – given the next Leeds manager will be their eighth permanent manager in three years, it’s somewhat understandable he’s weighing everything up, even if there is a new owner at the club.
Italian businessman Andrea Radrizzani now owns 100% of the club after buying out controversial former owner Massimo Cellino, and Leeds fans will be hoping that the new owner can make Karanka believe it’s the right move for him.
Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka
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