Neil Warnock: Middlesbrough boss extends deal until end of 2021-22 season

Middlesbrough are the 16th club Neil Warnock has managed

Middlesbrough boss Neil Warnock has signed a contract extension until the end of the 2021-22 season.

The 72-year-old took over in June 2020 after Jonathan Woodgate was sacked and steered Boro to Championship survival before agreeing to stay on this season.

The Teessiders are ninth in the Championship, five points off the play-off places.

Warnock, who has won eight promotions across his long career, has now managed professionally in 1,569 matches.

"Steve [Gibson, Middlesbrough owner] has been pestering me for months and his argument is you can't leave on an empty stadium," Warnock told BBC Tees.

"You've got to see 25-30,000 fans behind you and your team at the Riverside, and finish on a high note where you've got their support.

"I have enjoyed it. There have been low moments as well but overall I think me and my staff have done a pretty good job of stabilising everything and now it's time to look to the future.

"We're not a lot missing - we're looking for one or two good players and Steve is determined to get me those players. We want to have some fun."

Warnock started his managerial career in non-league with Gainsborough Trinity in 1980 and, at one point, had planned to retire at the end of the 2005-06 season.

After leaving boyhood club Sheffield United following relegation from the Premier League in 2007, he said "there is another club, chairman and group of fans out there who would relish me taking over".

Since then he has managed six further clubs, including having two spells at both Crystal Palace and QPR, and won two more promotions to the top flight.

He left Cardiff in November 2019 having said the 2019-20 season would be his last in management but seven months later took over at Boro.