How Middlesbrough feel about Michael Carrick returning to replace Rob Edwards – It is really clear | OneFootball

Former Boro boss Michael Carrick has been linked with a shock return to the Riverside Stadium.

Former Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick is not being considered for a return to the Riverside Stadium to replace Rob Edwards.

This comes from a report by the Northern Echo, who have provided an update on where everything stands in Boro’s hunt for a new head coach.

Edwards was confirmed as the new Wolves manager earlier this week, bringing his near five-month tenure on Teesside way to an unsavoury end, despite guiding Middlesbrough into promotion contention during the early stages of this season.

Amidst all the noise surrounding Edwards’ exit, caretaker Adi Viveash took charge of the side as they hosted Birmingham City, and the team rallied by securing a 2-1 victory that keeps them in the top two during the latest international break.

This next appointment is a big one for the Boro hierarchy to get right though, and they will need to take all the time they can to ensure they get an appealing fit who can keep the club in the promising position they currently find themselves.

Interestingly, as rumours continue to swirl about who could be the next in line for dugout at the Riverside Stadium, former boss Michael Carrick has been linked with a shock return after only being sacked by owner Steve Gibson in the summer.

And this report by the Northern Echo is emphatic about whether this appointment could come to fruition.

Michael Carrick, Middlesbrough return ruled out

The Northern Echo have released an update on Middlesbrough’s search for Rob Edwards’ successor, and have ruled out Michael Carrick making a swift return to the Riverside Stadium.

The 44-year-old had been in charge of Boro between 2022 and 2025, and with his consistent track record of getting the club fighting for a promotion place, it could have been seen as an appealing appointment given he is yet to find work since departing from Teesside this summer.

But any rumours have now been quashed, with the report outlining that Boro won’t be rushed into an appointment, while there is still no clear frontrunner for the job, who are keeping open-minded and are keen to speak to several candidates.

It’s understood some talks have already taken place, while other meetings are scheduled in the upcoming days. Adi Viveash is expected to remain in charge for their trip to Oxford United next Saturday.

Those that have been prominently linked are Steven Gerrard, Gary O’Neil, Brendan Rodgers, Carlos Corberan, Raphael Wicky and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

When looking at Middlesbrough’s decision not to pursue a move for Michael Carrick, it appears the correct decision.

It would have been rather easy but somewhat embarrassing to have a full-circle moment just five months on after relieving him of his duties, but he wasn’t a figure that warranted a return given the club didn’t taste any promotion success with him.

While he normally had his Middlesbrough side positioned towards the upper ends of the table, Boro were too often a ‘nearly side’ under his guidance, failing to secure promotion via the play-offs in 2022-23, while eighth and 10th-placed finishes followed in his next two seasons in charge.

Who knows whether the mentality of these failures would have seeped back into the Middlesbrough squad if he had returned, while supporters also complained about a dull and uninspiring brand of football towards the end of his time with the club, appearing an appointment that wouldn’t have been a popular one with the majority of Boro fans.

Overall, Carrick is someone the club are rightly steering away from. Middlesbrough need a coach who has proven experience of delivering promotion and someone the club can put full faith in that their promising early position won’t be squandered.