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Middlesbrough could now hire manager Mikel Arteta called ‘brilliant’ as Michael Carrick position under review

Billy Meyers

Sun 16 February 2025 17:55, UK Updated Sun 16 February 2025 20:15, UK

TBR Football understand Middlesbrough are considering the future of Michael Carrick – with Steve Cooper an option to replace him.

🌃Boro have struggled under the Englishman in recent weeks, losing four games in a row, with only two wins in the last 12 outings across all competitions.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
11	MiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough	32	12	8	12	50	43	7	44

꧒As a result, the man from Wallsend is now under pressure at the Riverside Stadium, despite signing a new three-year contract back in June 2024.

Now, TBR Football have been told Middlesbrough are considering the future of Michael Carrick – with Steve Cooper the favourite to arrive on Teesside.

Steve Cooper open to replacing Michael Carrick at Middlesbrough

Graeme Bailey – Chief Correspondent at TBR Footballܫ – has now been told that some within Middlesbrough believe a change is needed in the dugout.

ဣWe understand Steve Gibson – chairman of Middlesbrough – would be loathed to lose Carrick, having only handed him a new contract running until 2027 back in June.

𒉰It is believed that Boro chairman Steve Gibson would be loathed to lose Carrick, having handed him a new long-term contract in the summer.

ꦉHowever, TBR Football understands that some within the club’s hierarchy believe a change is needed and due diligence has been done on prospective candidates and Cooper has emerged as the most likely option – should Boro make a change.

It is believed the Welshman is ready to return to management after being dismissed by Leicester City back in November, and the opportunity to replace Carrick – who was linked to West Ham𒈔 earlier this season – would be too good to turn down.

What Mikel Arteta and Sam Allardyce have previously said about Steve Cooper

🎐If Boro do hire Cooper, it would be a hugely promising appointment.

✃The 45-year-old is capable of magic in the Championship, taking over at Nottingham Forest back in September 2021 with the Reds bottom of the table, before guiding them to promotion at Wembley that same season.

🅷It speaks volumes that supporters were absolutely devastated when Nottingham Forest sacked Cooper in December 2023.

Emotional Nottingham Forest fans have reacted to the sacking of manager Steve Cooper.

Read more:

— BBC East Midlands (@bbcemt)

Mikel Arteta is a fan of Cooper🔯 – along with Sam Allardyce – with the Spaniard saying back in May 2023: “Brilliant – they made so many changes and I’m sure he found it very difficult with the amount of signings they had.

✅“The club was patient, especially with the way they performed the year before and what they’ve done in the league. Maintaining that belief and that unity around the place, big credit to him for what he’s done with the team.”

💞In regards to Allardyce, the 70-year-old said: “If Nottingham Forest survive relegation (they did) Steve Cooper has definitely done the best job of all the managers in the Premier League this season.”