Michael Carrick has been dismissed as Middlesbrough’s head coach after failing to achieve promotion to the Premier League in three successive attempts. The 43-year-old former Manchester United and England midfielder was let go following discussions with club chairman Steve Gibson.
Carrick assumed the role from Chris Wilder in October 2022, quickly making a positive impact by leading Middlesbrough to a fourth-place finish in his debut season. However, the team failed to reach the play-offs in the subsequent two seasons, with lackluster performances toward the end of each campaign proving detrimental.
Middlesbrough announced Carrick’s exit in a brief statement, which also confirmed the departure of his assistants Jonathan Woodgate and Graeme Carrick.
“Middlesbrough Football Club has today parted company with head coach Michael Carrick,” the statement read. “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 noted that it would refrain from further comments at this time.
Woodgate, a former Middlesbrough player and eight-cap England international, had previously served as the club’s manager from 2019 to 2020. Graeme Carrick, Michael’s brother, brought coaching experience from Newcastle United.
Carrick’s exit has sparked speculation about his future prospects. Just a day prior to the announcement, TNT Sports pundit Joe Cole proposed that Carrick could be a suitable candidate for the managerial position at Tottenham Hotspur, one of his former clubs.
“Michael Carrick could be a good option for the manager’s job. An ex-Spurs player, who understands the club, would be quite nice,” Cole said during an interview with Paddy Power.
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