MICHAEL CARRICK SACKED BY MIDDLESBROUGH AFTER THIRD FAILED PROMOTION BID
Michael Carrick has been dismissed as head coach of Middlesbrough following a third consecutive failed attempt to secure promotion to the Premier League.
The 43-year-old former Manchester United and England midfielder was relieved of his duties after a meeting with club chairman Steve Gibson, the club confirmed on Wednesday.
Carrick, who took over from Chris Wilder in October 2022, made an immediate impact in his debut campaign, guiding Boro to a fourth-place Championship finish. However, the team failed to build on that momentum, missing out on the play-offs in the following two seasons as poor end-of-season form derailed their promotion hopes.
In a brief statement, the club also announced the departures of Carrick’s coaching staff, including former Middlesbrough player and ex-manager Jonathan Woodgate, and Graeme Carrick, Michael’s brother.
“Middlesbrough Football Club has today parted company with head coach Michael Carrick. Michael’s assistants Jonathan Woodgate and Graeme Carrick have also departed the club. We’d like to thank Michael, Jonathan, and Graeme for all their hard work and unwavering commitment. We wish them all the very best for the future,” the club said.
The club added that no further comment would be made at this time.
Woodgate, who earned eight caps for England, had a previous stint as Boro manager between 2019 and 2020, while Graeme Carrick joined the club’s backroom staff with a coaching background from Newcastle United.
Carrick’s departure has already sparked speculation about his next destination. Just a day before the news broke, TNT Sports pundit Joe Cole floated Carrick as a potential candidate for the Tottenham Hotspur managerial job — a club Carrick played for early in his career.
“Michael Carrick could be a good option for the manager’s job,” Cole said in an interview with Paddy Power. “An ex-Spurs player who understands the club would be quite nice.”
Carrick leaves the Riverside with a reputation for steady leadership but ultimately unable to deliver top-flight football for the Teesside club.