Exclusive: Middlesbrough urged to appoint "really driven" 42-year-old to replace Carrick | OneFootball

Luton's former boss is among those in the running to replace Michael Carrick.

Former Luton Town boss is a target that Middlesbrough are considering to replace Michael Carrick.

After a post-season review, the Boro hierarchy decided that they could only move forward without the ex-Manchester United midfielder at the helm.

His performances were brilliant initially, getting them into the play-offs in his first season in charge, but things started to tail off afterwards, eventually leading them to finish eighth in 2023/24 and tenth in 2024/25.

A number of names have been linked with the now vacant position: Robbie Keane, Danny Rohl, Jon Dahl Tomasson and Edwards, according to Alex Crook.

The latter has been out of a job since Luton sacked him in January in an attempt to save themselves from back-to-back relegations; they weren't successful in avoiding that fate.

Middlesbrough pushed to consider Rob Edwards as Michael Carrick's replacement

Sky Sports pundit Lee Hendrie believes that despite his recent Championship record, Edwards, 42, has the pedigree to do what Carrick couldn't and inspire the Boro players to a proper promotion push. The Teessiders may need to act quick on this front though, as the Welshman is also a reported contender for the Bristol City job.

Hendrie exclusively told Football League World: "He's [Edwards] obviously in contention for the Boro job now that it's vacant. I think he'd be a really good appointment. I really do.

"When you compare the managers that they have been linked with and the managers that could go in there, you feel that Rob could be a real good choice.

"Having that little bit of experience of what he did at Luton in the Championship and taking them to promotion, being the underdogs, and the style of play. Rob is football-minded, he wants to play a brand of football that is attractive, which Boro have done in the last few seasons under Carrick, so it has left a platform for him to literally go and fill the boots.

"He's a young coach, really driven. I think Rob has been waiting for the right job to come around rather than jumping straight back in. He has had his time out, he's replenished and I think he'd be a really good option for Boro because of the way he conducts himself. I just think the fit would be perfect.

"I think he'll get them fans driven and them players in the right place - just having a fresh voice and knowing that he's taken a club from the Championship to the Premier League. I think he'd be perfect for Middlesbrough."

Rob Edwards' positive body of work outweighs the past year

Edwards' 2024/25 campaign - well, the part of it that he got to actually manage Luton for - should absolutely be taken into account when Boro decide who their next boss will be. He couldn't right a ship that should have never tipped over in these waters in the first place, and that was ultimately why he was gotten rid of.

That shouldn't entirely discount and take away from his prior work. The Hatters were competitive in the Premier League and did better than any of the teams that replaced them in the following season. What he did to get them to the point where they could even challenge to be in the top flight was just as impressive.