Middlesbrough sacks Carrick after missing play-offs
Middlesbrough sacked former Manchester United and Tottenham midfielder Michael Carrick after he failed to guide it to a Championship play-off place.
Carrick joined Middlesbrough as manager in October 2022 with the club perched perilously close to the Championship's relegation zone, having previously enjoyed a three-match spell as United's interim manager after the departure of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
He oversaw an immediate upturn in the North-East as his team motored up the table to finish fourth, though it was beaten by Coventry City in the play-off semi-finals.
Another promotion push came in 2023-2024, while Boro also reached the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup and looked on course to reach Wembley after a 1-0 first-leg victory over Chelsea.
However, it was trounced 6-1 at Stamford Bridge in the second leg and ultimately finished eighth in the Championship table, four points off the play-offs.
Boro remained in the hunt for a top-six spot until the final day of the 2024-2025 season, too, but a 2-0 defeat at Coventry saw it finish 10th.
Having failed on three occasions to restore Boro to the big time, Carrick has now paid the price, with assistants Jonathan Woodgate and Graeme Carrick, his brother, also leaving.
"We'd like to thank Michael, Jonathan and Graeme for all their hard work and unwavering commitment," Middlesbrough said. "We wish them all the very best for the future.
"The club will be making no further comment at this stage."
