Karanka Controversy Leads to Sacking
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Karanka after winning Manager of the Month this year. Who would’ve predicted his downfall then?
Following the events of Saturday’s Sky Bet Football Awards, Middlesbrough have decided to terminate manager Aitor Karanka’s contract, effective immediately. This was to be predicted after calling the club “no f****** good” and ranted about Bournemouth’s Eddie Howe, as well as Blackpool.
Karanka, 41, joined the Championship side in November 2013, taking over from Tony Mowbray. In his first season, Karanka lead Boro to a 12th place finish.
However, his achievements in the 2014/15 season were more to be boasted about, and this may have been the reasoning of his rants.
The club finished 4th in the Championship, and did have a strong chance of automatic promotion. However, a defeat against Fulham all but dashed those hopes, and Middlesbrough qualified for the play-offs.
They reached the play-off final, but lost 2-0 in an anticlimactic match against Norwich City after a 5-1 thrashing of Brentford.
One of Karanka’s successes at Middlesbrough has been the loan signing of 21 year-old Patrick Bamford, who won awards for his spectacular play.
Sky Bet Championship 2014/15 Standings
Team | Points |
Goal Difference |
Manager |
1. Bournemouth |
90 points |
+53 GD |
Eddie Howe |
2. Watford |
89 points |
+41 GD |
Slavisa Jokanovic |
3. Norwich |
86 points |
+40 GD |
Alex Neil |
4. Middlesbrough |
85 points |
+31 GD |
Aitor Karanka |
5. Brentford |
78 points |
+19 GD |
Mark Warburton |
6. Ipswich |
78 points |
+18 GD |
Mick McCarthy |
Boro chairman Steve Gibson said, ”We do not wish to discuss the exact circumstances of Aitor’s sacking, because it has been a disgrace onto our club and the less said about it the better. He has been made very aware of our feelings about the previous few days and nothing is unclear to him.”
The Spaniard’s last game with Middlesbrough was, of course, the 2-0 play-off final defeat against Norwich City.
More: Karanka Causes Controversy At Awards
In his time at Middlesbrough, Karanka had a win percentage of 50.57%, winning 44 of 87 games. His goal difference is +49.
In his footballing career, he played a total of 358 club games and 7 international games, for Spain and for Basque Country.
His youth career began at Corazonistas, before moving on to Alaves, and then Athletic Bilbao in 1991.
1992 came, and he was a regular player for Bilbao Athletic for two years, picking up 53 appearances and 2 goals. In 1993, he was then promoted to the main squad and played a total of 118 games for Athletic Bilbao. He scored another 2 goals.
Real Madrid then signed Karanka in 1997, and was bought as back-up. However, he appeared in 33 Champions League fixtures for the club, including the 3-0 victory against Valencia in 2000.
After five years at Real Madrid, he returned to Athletic Bilbao in 2002, scoring 2 goals in 64 matches for the club in his four years. He then switched to the Colorado Rapids, and played one season there before retiring.
Gareth Southgate Former Middlesbrough manager and player
“Nobody can say they’re surprised at Karanka being sacked. The things he said at the awards on Saturday were inexcusable, and this will follow him around wherever he goes - in the footballing world, or elsewhere.
The attention now turns to Middlesbrough, and who they’ll choose to replace him. This is the best time to get rid of a manager, as there is time for bonding with the players. However, whoever takes on this job will have to do things quickly, because the fans will be expecting big things this season.”
Currently linked with the post are Harry Redknapp, Paul Lambert and Mark Warburton. However, former Newcastle manager John Carver is the favourite at this moment in time.
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