3 Michael Carrick replacements Middlesbrough must consider as sack threat grows | OneFootball

We look at managers that could replace Michael Carrick at Middlesbrough amid uncertainty over his future at the club

Michael Carrick’s position at Middlesbrough is under threat following the team’s failure to secure a play-off place.

It has been exclusively revealed by FLW that the 43-year-old is facing the threat of being sacked by the Teesside outfit.

Defeat to Coventry City on the final day of the regular season consigned the club to another year in the second division, leaving them 10th in the table, four points adrift of the top six.

Carrick has been in charge at the Riverside since October 2022, and has led them to fourth, eighth and now 10th place finishes in the Championship in that time.

Here we look at three potential names that could prove suitable replacements for the former England international, should he depart Middlesbrough this summer…

Russell Martin

Russell Martin is currently out of work after departing Southampton earlier this season.

The 39-year-old guided the Saints to promotion to the Premier League in 2024, but a poor first half of the campaign left them floundering bottom of the table, leading to a change in the dugout at St. Mary’s.

But Martin’s experience in the second tier is quite impressive, and his style of play has proven it gets results at this level, having also done well at Swansea City prior to his move to Southampton.

While there are some reservations over whether he can manage at the top level, it would be worth it to Middlesbrough if he could get the club back to the Premier League in the near future.

His stubborn approach to his attacking philosophy could also give the team the refresh they need after almost three years with Carrick at the helm, and could give the club the structure and strategy they need going forward.

Gary O’Neil

Gary O’Neil has proven himself as a capable manager at a Premier League level, previously working with both Bournemouth and Wolves.

However, his time at Molineux came to an end earlier this season, leaving him available for work.

If he’d be willing to take the jump down to the second division, then he’d be a solid appointment for Middlesbrough.

That he has history with the club could also convince him to make that jump, and could inspire the supporters.

O’Neil spent four years as a player at the Riverside, making over 100 appearances for the club, so will know his way around the place quite well already.

Sean Dyche

Sean Dyche is another proven Premier League manager that Middlesbrough might be able to convince to drop down to the Championship for the right project.

Dyche has previously earned promotion from the Championship twice during his time at Burnley, and knows what it takes to win at this level.

The 53-year-old would be a great appointment for Boro given that track record of success.

His arrival would likely necessitate some investment in order to convince him to arrive, which may rely on selling one or two high profile assets, such as Hayden Hackney, which might not go down well with supporters.

Dyche’s pragmatic style of play would also be a big shift from how Carrick has set the team up, and would be quite different to, say, Martin’s ideas about football.