Middlesbrough have appointed Manchester United favourite Michael Carrick as their new manager.
Carrick, 41, spent 12 memorable years at Old Trafford as a player before serving as assistant to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after hanging up his boots. He also stepped in for three games as caretaker when Solskjaer was sacked by the club last December before Ralf Rangnick then took interim charge.
At that stage, Carrick ended his association with United and has since been linked with several coaching positions. But the ex-England international has now stepped into his first management role.
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Speaking to club media, Carrick said: "I'm really excited to be here and part of a club with such a deep history and tradition. Middlesbrough was the first professional club I played for as a boy so it's a very special feeling to be back here as a head coach.
"With 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.
"I'll give everything to help develop the team and keep moving the club forward and make you supporters proud. I can't wait to get started."
Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson added: "We're delighted to welcome Michael to the club. We had identified a number of potentials for the vacancy who we spoke with, 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 him as perfect fit for us, and he believes this is the right club [for him] at the right time."
Carrick will be joined by Jonathan Woodgate as first-team coach with further appointments set to be made in due course. Middlesbrough are currently sitting fourth bottom in the Championship standings - having only picked up 17 points from 16 games so far this season.
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