Home   >   Transfer News   >   Aitor Karanka appointed Middlesbrough manager

Aitor Karanka appointed Middlesbrough manager

By on November 13, 2013

Former Real Madrid center-back Aitor Karanka has taken over at Middlesbrough

Former Real Madrid center-back Aitor Karanka has taken over at Middlesbrough

Aitor Karanka has been appointed manager of Middlesbrough on a two-and-a-half-year deal after turning down the Crystal Palace, replacing caretaker Mark Venus.  The former member of Jose Mourinho’s back-room staff at Real Madrid had previously been linked with the vacancy at Crystal Palace and at one point was the favorite to take over at Selhurst Park, but decided to join English Championship side Middlesbrough after consulting Mourinho.

The former Real Madrid and Spain central defender is set to be one of the younger managers in the Championship aged 40, yet has charged himself with the job of leading a club sitting just five points off the relegation zone into the Premier League, where he would take on his former boss Mourinho.  Karanka spoke highly of the controversial figure, claiming Mourinho helped him along his management journey massively: “You can learn everything on the pitch and off the pitch and the changing room. He’s the one,” Karanka said of Mourinho. “He’s the person who’s supported me for months. He recommended me to come here because he believes in this project, like me.”

Middlesbrough’s chief executive Neil Bausor confirmed the appointment, saying: “We are delighted that Aitor has decided to further his coaching career with Middlesbrough. He brings with him some fantastic experience as a player and as a talented young coach. We are all excited about working with him.”

Karanka himself exclaimed his excitement at being appointed durning his first press conference as The Boro’s manager, saying: “It is a very important day for me,” he said. “This is my first job and it is the best thing that I can do because I have found a club like a family with big facilities, with a big stadium, with big supporters, it’s a very important day for me.

“It is my time. I have been, for three years, with José Mourinho and I think he supported me every day. I learned with him and his staff and I’m ready now.”

About Alex Morgan

Alex Morgan, founder of Football Every Day, lives and breaths football from the West Coast of the United States in California. Aside from founding Football Every Day in January of 2013, Alex has also launched his own journalism career and hopes to help others do the same with FBED. He covers the San Jose Earthquakes as a beat reporter for QuakesTalk.com and his work has also been featured in the BBC's Match of the Day Magazine.