Middlesbrough have parted ways with manager Aitor Karanka.
Ex-Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka
Middlesbrough today confirmed that they have parted ways with manager Aitor Karanka by mutual consent, with the search for a new manager now on.
Karanka, who replaced Tony Mowbray as Boro boss back in 2013, took Middlesbrough to the Championship play-off final in 2015, before guiding them to automatic promotion last season.
The Spaniard, who worked as Jose Mourinho’s assistant at Real Madrid, has made Boro hard to beat this season, as they have conceded the fewest amount of goals of any team outside the top seven in the Premier League.
However, Middlesbrough have scored just 19 goals this season, the lowest tally in the Premier League, and with just four points in the last ten games, Boro have dropped into the relegation zone, meaning Karanka has now lost his job.
Ahead of this weekend’s game with Manchester United, bookmakers have been pricing up odds for who would replace Karanka – and here are five of the main names moving in the market today, as seen on Oddschecker.
Nigel Pearson: 5/4
Out of work since losing his job at Derby County back in October 2016, Pearson is looking to get back into management – and he’s the hot favourite for a return to Boro. Pearson made over 100 appearances for Boro as a player, ending his playing day at the Riverside Stadium in 1998. Despite his disastrous spell at Derby, Pearson’s reputation remains quite strong having laid the foundations for Leicester City by winning promotion and then keeping the club in the top flight. At 5/4, he’s the strong favourite for the Boro job and for a return to Teesside.
Steve Agnew: 3/1
Currently the caretaker manager at Boro, Agnew will be preparing for Sunday’s clash with Manchester United. The 51-year-old has been a coach for many years, and even served as Boro’s caretaker in 2010 following Gordon Strachan’s departure, but has no long-term managerial experience. Agnew is 3/1 for the job as he prepares for his big audition this weekend, but given how desperate Boro’s situation is, it’s hard to see them giving Agnew the reins.
Nigel Pearson
Guus Hiddink: 4/1
An intriguing name in the frame, Hiddink has been called in as a firefighter at Chelsea twice now, winning ten of his 27 games in charge of the Blues last season. The Dutchman is now out of work, and may be eyeing one last Premier League adventure given that he turned 70 in November. At 4/1, the former Netherlands, Anzhi Makhachkala and Australia boss brings bags of experience and could be ideal until the end of the season.
Steve McClaren: 7/1
A former Boro manager, McClaren guided the club to the 2006 UEFA Cup Final before taking the England job, and he also won the League Cup with Boro in 2004. His managerial career since leaving Middlesbrough has been sporadic to say the least, and he was sacked by Derby County for the second time on Sunday. After two spells with Twente and two spells with Derby, McClaren is now just 7/1 for a second spell with Middlesbrough in what would be a shock move.
Alan Pardew: 8/1
Sacked by Crystal Palace in December, Pardew is a manager who divides opinion. On the one hand, he regularly starts superbly with clubs and shows real promise, but when things go wrong, they tend to stay wrong for a long time – as seen at Newcastle and Palace. Pardew could be a candidate to keep Boro in the Premier League, but long-term he may not be the answer, and at 8/1 he could be a dark horse for the job.
Would you like to see Pearson become Middlesbrough manager?
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