Veteran Howson OK with Boro promotion 'failure'

Jonny Howson joined Middlesbrough from Norwich City in 2017

Jonny Howson said he has no regrets at his failure to take Middlesbrough back into the Premier League.

The midfielder left Boro last month after eight years on Teesside in which he played 341 games for the club, scoring 10 goals.

The 37-year-old arrived at the Riverside from Norwich City in 2017 just after Boro had been relegated from the top flight but he was never part of a promotion campaign.

"For why I came to this club, it was to gain promotion and go back and play in the Premier League with a terrific, well-supported club," he told BBC Radio Tees.

"If you're basing it on that, I have failed, and I'm fine with that because I've given it everything I've got."

'I've had life moments here'

Howson played under six permanent bosses at Middlesbrough and helped his team reach the play-offs on two occasions, although they lost in the semi-finals in both 2018 and 2023.

He was part of the side that enjoyed memorable FA Cup successes over Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur in the 2021-22 season, and a Carabao Cup semi-final win over Chelsea in the first leg in January 2024, before the second leg ended in a heavy defeat.

And the Middlesbrough supporters showed what they thought of Howson's efforts in the pre-season friendly at Rangers as a banner in the away end at Ibrox read: '8 years of loyalty and leadership. Thank you Jonny.'

"I probably never thought I'd have eight goes at it, so that's a success in itself," Howson said.

"I can look back at my time and be proud because we've created other memories.

"Sometimes in life you don't get maybe what you deserve or what you want, but I've got no problem with that.

"Look at the other stuff I've created, the people I've met. Promotion and playing in the Premier League is a football thing, but I've had life moments here, which are bigger than that."