- Michael Carrick’s three years in charge of Middlesbrough have come to an end
- He signed a new three-year deal last summer and Boro finished 10th this term
- Boro narrowly missed out on the Championship playoffs by four points
Michael Carrick’s contract at Middlesbrough has been terminated, ending the reign of the Championship’s longest-serving current manager.
The former Manchester United midfielder, who has developed into a highly-rated coach, had signed a new three-year contract last summer.
But that has been terminated by Boro after Carrick was unable to steer the team into the play-off spots in either of the last two campaigns.
Carrick led a revival at Middlesbrough against the odds but never quite found the consistency to challenge at the top end of the table.
Middlesbrough won just one of their final six league games last term and ended the season in 10th, albeit just four points away from a play-off position.
It proved to be a streaky season, with the north-east club struggling over the winter months in particular.
Michael Carrick has been relieved of his duties as Middlesbrough manager
The manager will no doubt be of interest to a number of sides having impressed in his tenure
Carrick’s side went through a lean spell in February but only finished four points off the playoffs
But the style of play and attacking output was undoubtedly impressive at times, particularly when Liverpool loanee Ben Doak was fit and firing.
Chairman Steve Gibson and the board have conducted a review into the season following the final day defeat by Coventry City and the club have moved to terminate Carrick’s contract.
After that Coventry loss, Carrick had been optimistic about his future on Teeside.
He said: ‘Yeah [I expect to be in charge next season]. I’m carrying on. I think we’ve got a good squad, and my focus is on carrying on.
‘I’ll be speaking to the boys moving forward, to get ready for what will hopefully be a good season. I think we’ve got a good squad, good stability within the group.
‘We’re doing a lot of good things, and if we can add to that and improve, things can look up from there. We now go away, assess the squad, look at how we can help the boys improve things and overcome this disappointment. We use it for motivation. That’s the only way I know.’
But Carrick will not have that opportunity, with the club moving in a different direction.
No doubt plenty of sides will be alive to the prospect of Carrick taking charge of a new project.
The former United and England international has already built an impressive reputation in the dugout, well liked by players with a clear philosophy.
