Middlesbrough have terminated Michael Carrick’s contract as manager.
The former Manchester United midfielder was the Championship’s longest-serving manager but has paid the price for the club’s disappointing end to the season.
Boro missed out on the play-offs by four points after winning just one of their final six league games, and ended the season in 10th.
Middlesbrough released a blunt club statement regarding the decision, it read: "Middlesbrough Football Club has today parted company with head coach Michael Carrick.
"Michael's assistants Jonathan Woodgate and Graeme Carrick have also departed the club.
We'd like 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 will be making no further comment at this stage."
The 43-year-old replaced Chris Wilder in October 2022 after an impressive spell as caretaker manager at United after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's sacking. He guided Boro to fourth in his first full season in charge but the club have been unable to kick on.
Middlesbrough finished 8th in the 2023/24 season, having started the season with two points from their opening seven league games. Last season, they had just one victory in the final six games of the campaign.
Following defeat on the final day to Coventry City, Carrick was optimistic about his future at The Riverside. "Yeah [I expect to be in charge next season]. I’m carrying on. I think we’ve got a good squad, and my focus is on carrying on," he said.
"I’ll be speaking to the boys moving forward, to get ready for what will hopefully be a good season. I think we’ve got a good squad, good stability within the group.
"We’re doing a lot of good things, and if we can add to that and improve, things can look up from there. We now go away, assess the squad, look at how we can help the boys improve things and overcome this disappointment. We use it for motivation. That’s the only way I know."
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