MICHAEL CARRICK has been confirmed as Middlesbrough’s new head coach – with former Boro boss Jonathan Woodgate returning to the Riverside as part of his coaching team.

Carrick’s appointment was finally announced this afternoon, three weeks after Chris Wilder was dismissed.

The Wallsend-born 41-year-old is taking on his first senior managerial position, having worked under both Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solksjaer on Manchester United’s coaching staff and stood in as the Old Trafford club’s caretaker manager for three matches last season.

He takes over a Boro side sitting in 21st position in the Championship table in the wake of Saturday’s goalless draw with Huddersfield Town, and his initial priority will be guide the club away from trouble at the foot of the table.

In the longer term, he will be charged with the task of leading the Teessiders back into the promotion picture, and Boro chairman Steve Gibson is confident he is ready for the challenge.

Gibson and director of football, Kieran Scott, considered a number of potential candidates in the last three weeks, with former Forest Green Rovers and Watford Rob Edwards also known to have had a formal interview.

However, Carrick emerged as their preferred option, and while an initial round of talks ended without an agreement last week, further discussions resulted in a deal being struck.

“We’re delighted to welcome Michael to the club,” said Gibson. “We had identified a number of potentials for the vacancy who we spoke with, and were impressed by all, but Michael was the outstanding candidate.

“Michael has the same values as the club, and we are very much aligned in our ambitions. We see Michael as the perfect fit for us and he believes this is the right club at the right time.”

It is telling that Carrick has been described as a ‘head coach’ rather than a ‘manager’, with the Boro hierarchy keen to move away from some of the problems that plagued them under both Wilder and his predecessor, Neil Warnock, who both demanded a high degree of autonomy in the way in which the club was being run.

The Northern Echo: Michael Carrick Michael Carrick (Image: Tom Banks)

Carrick is expected to be part of a more collegiate model, with Scott assuming a large degree of responsibility over recruitment and player identification and the head coach’s primary focus set to lie on the training ground.

A product of the Wallsend Boys Club, Carrick was briefly on Middlesbrough’s books as a youngster before going on to enjoy considerable success as a player with West Ham, Tottenham and, most notably, Manchester United.

He is a five-time Premier League winner, who also won the Champions League and Europa League during his time as a player at Old Trafford, and was also capped 34 times by England.

He moved onto Manchester United’s coaching staff in the immediate aftermath of his playing career, but has never hidden his desire to move into frontline management.

“I’m really excited to be here, and to be part of a club with such a deep history and tradition,” said Carrick. “Middlesbrough was the first professional club I played for as a nine-year-old boy, so it’s a very special feeling to be back here as a head coach.

“Growing up in the North-East myself, I’m fully aware of what football means to people. It’s a real privilege for me to be in this position and to feel all the passion and enthusiasm you’ve got for the game and for Boro.

“I’ll give everything to help develop the team and keep moving the club forward and make you, the supporters, proud. I can’t wait to get started.”

Woodgate’s appointment as first-team coach is something of a surprise, with the Teessider returning to Rockliffe Park two-and-a-half years after he was dismissed as manager.

The Northern Echo: Former Middlesbrough head coach Jonathan Woodgate has taken temporary charge at Bournemouth

The 42-year-old worked on Boro’s coaching staff under both Steve Agnew and Tony Pulis before he was promoted to be Pulis’ successor in the summer of 2019.

He was replaced by Warnock 12 months later, with the Teessiders at risk of being relegated in a season affected by Covid, but subsequently enjoyed success as caretaker manager of Bournemouth, leading the Cherries into the Championship play-offs in the 2020-21 season.

A hugely popular figure thanks to his association with Boro as a player, coach and manager, Woodgate’s appointment provides a thread to the club’s past as they look to embark on a new era.

Having presided over the last five matches as interim boss, Leo Percovich will not be part of Carrick’s senior coaching team.

He will, however, remain with Middlesbrough, working as the club’s new head of player pathway and development.