HAYDEN Hackney and former Middlesbrough star Morgan Rogers both took to social media to thank Michael Carrick after his dismissal on Wednesday.
Hackney posted a picture with Carrick on his Instagram account alongside the caption 'thanks for everything gaffa', while Rogers paid his own tribute, writing on Instagram 'what a guy, all the best gaffer'.
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After being handed his first team chance by the interim coaching team ahead of Carrick's appointment, Hackney has established himself as one of the Championship's shining stars over the course of the last two-and-a-half years.
Carrick handed the 22-year-old Teessider the captain's armband and Hackney is now a regular England Under-21 international, but his form over the past couple of years has caught the attention of several clubs and he will no doubt be the subject of transfer interest this summer.
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Porto failed in their bid to sign Hackney in January and interest is inevitable in the weeks ahead. Hackney will tomorrow discover whether he has made the cut for England's Under-21 squad for this summer's European Championships.
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As for Rogers, the Aston Villa star is understandably grateful to Carrick for the part he played in his remarkable rise. Boro's head of football Kieran Scott spotted the potential in the Manchester City forward two summers ago and Rogers said Carrick helped him become more than a "glimpses player".
Boro made a huge profit on Rogers when he left just six months after his arrival, and would cash in again thanks to a sell-on clause if the forward - who has been linked with Chelsea - leaves Villa this summer.
Earlier on Wednesday, Boro forward Tommy Conway also took to social media to thank Carrick.
He wrote: "Gutted I’m writing this. Thank you Gaffer for everything. Wishing you nothing but the best in the future."
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Carrick's dismissal came after club officials carried out an in-depth four week review into what went wrong last season, with Boro slumping to a 10th place finish when the aim was to win promotion.
Boro will be inundated with interest in the role, with the likes of Rob Edwards and Steve Cooper - both installed as early favourite with the bookmakers, likely to be under consideration.