Aitor Karanka: Middlesbrough name ex-Real Madrid man as boss

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Middlesbrough head coach Aitor Karanka

Middlesbrough have named former Real Madrid assistant manager Aitor Karanka as their new head coach on a contract until 2016.

Karanka, 40, worked under Jose Mourinho for three years at the Bernabeu, but has no previous managerial experience.

The former Real and Spain defender left the nine-time European champions when Carlo Ancelotti replaced Mourinho as Madrid manager in the summer.

He becomes Middlesbrough's first ever non-British boss.

"This is a very important day for me and I'm delighted to join a club with such big facilities and support," Karanka told BBC Tees.

"It is my time, I know I am ready. I've worked for three years with Jose and he was supporting me every day and I learned so much.

"I spoke to him and he recommended me to come here - he too believes in this project."

Former manager Tony Mowbray and since then his deputy Mark Venus has been in temporary charge.

Middlesbrough are currently 16th in the Championship table, eight points adrift of the play-off positions and five points above the bottom three.

Just seven years ago Middlesbrough reached the Uefa Cup final, losing to Sevilla in what was Steve McClaren's final game before becoming England manager.

Gareth Southgate took over at the Riverside and three years later Boro were relegated to the Championship.

Southgate left the club in October 2009 and both Gordon Strachan and Tony Mowbray have since come and gone having failed to secure a play-off place.

"There are no easy answers and I think I could've been accused of being 'a little Englander' with my previous appointments," explained chairman Steve Gibson.

"There were 100 applications and it was about finding a first-class coach, regardless of nationality, and I believe we have.

"Football is a global business now and we must move with it."

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  • While this stays on topic before the inevitable derail that occurs on all BBC Sports comments pages, I'll just say this seems like a worthwhile gamble and hopefully he's the man to get Middlesbrough eventually promoted.

    No doubt we'll be talking about Man Utd within 50 comments or so though...

  • Refreshing that he would take a job in the lower league rather than a prem league job, esp as he had been assistant manager at one of the biggest clubs in the world. He will have learned a lot from Jose and the players will take confidence from that. Good luck to him and 'Boro

  • I don't live in Mbro but have been on business a few times. IMO its bad press is mostly undeserved, being based on 'yawn worthy' anti Northern ignorance. Been to worse.. Put it this way- if its such a dump then why has former Spanish International (and former world record transfer) Mendieta retired there? He comes from Bilbao & played for Lazio and Valencia by the way. Good luck Boro and Karanka

  • Jack Charlton, 1st managers job. Colin Todd, 1st Managers job, Robson, 1st managers job. Mclaren, 1st managers job. Southgate first managers job. Think MFC have given a lot of young English unproven managers a chance over the years.

  • everyone saying "who is this guy, he will fail" are the same people who probably said it about Pochettino and Southampton. The fact is he worked with Mourhino at the biggest club in the world so I think there is a strong chance he is no mug.

  • It's almost 20 years since Bryan Robson was appointed and the following 15 years were the best in our history. The past 5 years have been a disaster post relegation and Strachan. I hope that some modest funds can be made available for the obvious strengthening required at full back(s) and creatively in midfield. As of now I'd settle for mid table and 100% from everyone that wears the shirt. UTB

  • To all the southern rednecks: around Middlesbrough, Aitor will enjoy some of the most beautiful countryside in the UK.
    I'll grant you that Middlesbrough itself is not exactly beautiful, but then neither is much of inner London.

  • Interesting for 'Boro, reports had him linked to Palace so it'll be interesting to see how he gets on considering he's not a seasoned manager. He seems like a nice enough guy and Mourinho's men have gone on to be good managers (S. Clarke, B. Rodgers, A. Villas-Boas etc.) I wish Aitor and 'Boro all the best and see them back in the Premiership soon!

  • The training ground is on the grounds of a 5 star hotel with the biggest golf course in Europe, I can imagine how you can confuse that with Chernobyl. Elvis get your own jokes Stupid UBoat already used it and it was bad enough (and wrong) to start with. Jealousy of the area and it's country side I suspect and possibly of the best training facilities in Europe.

  • Many people moan about the same old managers getting jobs, so well done to Steve Gibson on giving someone else a chance. I'm sure Karanka will be given plenty of time to try to get things right so a good job for him as well.
    If things don't work out then it won't take the fans long to come up with a chant as not many English words rhyme with Karanka...

  • As a Boro supporter, I'm happy with this appointment. Have no interest in the ignorant comments of others, who, as usual, just interested in slagging us off! But if that makes you happy- go for it!

  • I hope he has considered the fact he will be swapping paella for parmo!

  • Given Boro's limited finances, I'd say it's a positive move. Working for Steve Gibson he should get sufficient time to settle in. Good luck to him.

  • 41. A Matter of Time

    "There's only ONE GARTH CROOKS

    There's only ONE MARK LAWRENSON"

    There's only one of most people......

  • Great news for us Boro fans - what we've been crying out for is some serious change within the whole setup.

    Karanka has a great background and he'll have a supportive chairman, top notch facilities and a fan base crying out for success. And before people dismiss him, remember the negativity around Southampton's managerial appointment last season. Who's laughing at them now?

  • Oh Mr Gibson, the wonders of hindsight eh? If you had only recruited a PROPER 'quality' manager in the first place - when McClaren left in 2006 (like you said you were going to, only to then name rookie Southgate as a million jaws dropped), then maybe your precious Boro would have remained a viable presence in the top flight instead of undergoing the embarrassing decline it has seen since.

  • Boro have had a previous foreign coach .... that chap who spoke English really slowly with a thick Dutch accent - Steve McLaren !

    Positive move, young manager, experience working with a great manager - good luck to him and Boro. Would like to see them back in the Prem.

  • 38 - he did. As did Robson and Mclaren. Southgate however was a shocker. Just don't agree with the club being lamented for appointing 'another' foreign coach instead of a young brit.

  • It's a gamble, but it could pay off big style.

  • From a neutral I wish him good luck. The Boro are a team I always look upon and think that it would be nice to see them back in the Premier League again (OK, mainly because their chicken burgers are awesome at the Riverside). Let's see how the new man gets on with his new club, needs a clear out methinks.

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