Middlesbrough

Should Middlesbrough interim boss Adi Viveash get the permanent job at the Riverside?

There are some among the Boro faithful who would love to see the caretaker manager step into the limelight - but would he take up the mantle?

"It depends on if he wants the job," Boro fan Chris Saunders told BBC Radio Tees.

"I get the impression that he is quite comfortable being a coach and I don't think he likes being centre of attention. I don't think he likes doing all the media stuff, whereas [Rob] Edwards loved it - if the bloke was chocolate he'd eat himself.

"When the coaching team was announced, it was debatable whether [Michael] Carrick to Edwards was an upgrade, but there was no debate that Adi Viveash coming in was a massive upgrade to our coaching staff.

"I wouldn't object at all to Adi Viveash being the interim manager or given the gig if he wants it, the only problem is I don't get the impression he wants it."

Stockport County's Dave Challinor has also been linked with the job.

The Hatters are currently top of League One and reached the play-offs last season under Challinor's reign.

"That is someone who I think is better than the managers already mentioned," Saunders added.

"Maybe I'm in the minority but I'd certainly take a Dave Challinor over a Steven Gerrard any day."

Listen to the full discussion and more Middlesbrough content on BBC Sounds.

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Middlesbrough forward Sontje Hansen scored his first international goal for Curacao to set up a deciding game against Jamaica to qualify for next year's World Cup.

The 23-year-old scored the fourth goal in a 7-0 thrashing of Bermuda in Hamilton to move the Caribbean island nation back to the top of their CONCACAF qualifying group.

They went above Jamaica who, managed by former Middlesbrough boss Steve McClaren, were held to a 1-1 draw by Trinidad & Tobago.

Curacao will now travel to Kingston next Wednesday needing just one point to qualify for the World Cup for the first time, while the side finishing in second place will go through to a Fifa play-off tournament.

Image source, Shutterstock

We asked you who you'd like to see next as Boro boss and there were many names being thrown in the hat.

But one thing is for sure, there's a lot of love for interim boss Adi Viveash at the Riverside.

Here is what you had to say about the 56-year-old:

Neil: This is a strong, well-balanced squad with an experienced coach who has the respect of the players - keep Adi Viveash in the role if he wants it.

Colin: Viveash was obviously the reins behind Mark Robins. He should be given a chance, if he wants it. Otherwise the club must prevail upon him to stay at the Riverside as number two to whoever they choose and insist that the new head coach accepts that. The man is a diamond!

Graham: I'd love to see us go for someone like Steven Gerrard or Ralph Hassenhutl, but whoever we get it needs to be someone who wants to be here and is likely to stay.

When we had Michael Carrick, his name was mentioned every time a Premier League club sacked a manager, but at least he stayed.

Also, whoever it is, we need to keep Adi Viveash at the Boro. The man is a class act.

Colin: I don't think we should rush it. Adi Viveash is a really safe pair of hands and might be good at it. There are not many out of work candidates at the moment but the managerial roundabout usually gets going towards Christmas and some suitable candidates might unexpectedly become available.

Peter: Keep Adi Viveash in charge, with someone over him to do the PR, press and has a love for Boro. So Bryan Robson or Tony Mowbray, and let Viveash choose the rest of the coaching team around. And leave like that for the rest of the season. This gives Boro months to see how the season goes and to do some proper succession planning. UTB.

Graham: Aaron Danks and Viveash two brilliant football minds coming together. Steve Gibson may tempt him back with an offer of managers job, a step up from his coaching role at Bayern Munich. Big ask but if you don't try you will never know.

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Wolverhampton Wanderers boss Rob Edwards has described the decision to leave Middlesbrough as "one of the toughest decisions" in his life in a statement released on his instagram account.

Edwards told supporters he "wouldn't have considered leaving for any other club" aside from Wolves, where he began his coaching career and made 111 appearances as a player.

"Middlesbrough is a incredible club, with a fantastic owner, staff and passionate supporters," Edwards wrote.

"I want to thank everyone at the club for the opportunity to lead this squad, it is a great group of players who I genuinely hope and believe will deliver success.

"I could not be prouder of the environment we built together and how it all gelled together so quickly - the players, the staff and the fans, who drive it all."

Edwards, who completed the move to Molineux on Wednesday, was only appointed Middlesbrough manager in June but leaves the club second in the Championship table.

His post on social media concluded, "I sincerely wish everyone at Middlesbrough all the best for the rest of the season and beyond."

Image source, Getty Images

Former striker Lyle Taylor has defended Rob Edwards' decision to leave Middlesbrough after just four months as manager, citing that there is "no loyalty in football".

The new Wolves manager has signed a three and a half year deal at Molineux and will take charge of his first game against Crystal Palace a week on Saturday.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast, Taylor said: "The lack of loyalty is evidenced by the fact that fans live in this football utopia whereby loyalty exists, but when a fan doesn't think a player is good enough - what do they do? They want the player out.

"When a player wants to leave a club to better themselves, they are treated like a turncoat. When a manager wants to do the same thing, it is the same situation.

"Football is a business and ultimately money rules business.

"Let's be honest, if there is ever a time Rob Edwards has to manage against Middlesbrough, he will get dog's abuse.

"But, for me, the presumption that there is loyalty in football is wide of the mark."

Listen to the full podcast on BBC Sounds

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We asked you who you'd like to see take the reigns at Middlesbrough now Rob Edwards has departed.

Here are some of your picks:

Andy: We need someone who has experience and can maintain the good start to the season. I would be happy with a Gary O'Neil or Brendan Rodgers.

John: The manager market looks rather depleted. I think Gerrard is a very Middlesbrough coded appointment. English, out of work, big name. That is my bet.

David: Historically we have done well with younger up-and-coming managers (Robson, McLaren, Southgate, Karanka) so I would like to see Gerrard appointed and given full backing. Would also like to see a shake-up in the recruitment team - we need to do better with the players we bring in. UTB.

Robbo: Tony Mowbray for me. Legend. Loves the club. Last time he had less managerial experience and had to clear up Strachan's mess. He'd take this squad up. UTB.

Andy: We shouldn't just go safe for our next appointment. We need to consider the team and tactics we've been working with to minimise disruption. The shortlisted bookies' favourites have the wrong managers listed, go left field to Ralph Hassenhuttl - collaborative manager, front foot and high press. Available also.

Paul: I think Steven Gerrard would be a good choice. It would help establish those connections with Liverpool, which in years gone by Boro have had.

Rob: I think it's time to bring back the positivity from 20 years ago. I'd forget the usual suspects and look at one of the icons from that era. Juninho Paulista? Massimo Maccarone? Mark Viduka?

Karen: It would be nice to have someone who is as passionate about the club as Leo, Howson and Juninho. We need someone who actually wants to be there. We should have went for Danny Rohl. I was never a fan of Edwards, I knew he wasn't right for the club.

Dan: It won't be O'Neil because he's disliked by the fans and the club know that. It won't be Gerard because he was overlooked for whatever reason during the summer. It won't be Tony Mowbray because of health issues. It won't be a manager who already has a club because that's not how Middlesbrough operate. It will end up being someone unexpected, possibly new to management and a free agent. Don't bet on any of the names you've heard so far.

Gary: Lee Carsley would be a good fit for Middlesbrough because his track record with England's U21s shows he can nurture young talent, instil discipline and build winning teams.

Carsley guided England's U21s to the 2023 European Championship title, proving he can deliver success under pressure and foster a strong team spirit.

Middlesbrough has a proud tradition of developing academy players and his emphasis on youth development aligns perfectly with the club's philosophy. His calm, modern coaching style and tactical flexibility would bring fresh ideas to the Riverside, while his hunger to prove himself in senior club management could energise both the squad and supporters.

Listen to the full reaction of Edwards' departure and more Middlesbrough content on BBC Sounds.

With Rob Edwards leaving the Riverside to fill the empty chair at Wolverhampton Wanderers, Middlesbrough are looking for a new boss to maintain their promotion challenge.

Who have you got your eyes on, Boro fans?

Do you want to keep with the status quo that's got you into second or are you looking for something different?

Can you afford your new boss to have any early wobbles?

Let us know your thoughts here and check back to see some of your responses.

"If you look at it on paper, a former player for the club, had a really good couple of stints in charge - from that perspective a really good potential option."

With Rob Edwards going to Wolverhampton Wanderers, should Middlesbrough turn to someone who spent time at the Molineux to continue their promotion hunt?

The 72+ team are joined by Chelmsford City striker Lyle Taylor and Peterborough Sports boss Phil Brown to discuss whether former Wolves head coach Gary O'Neil is the right man for the now vacant managerial seat at Middlesbrough.

They also get stuck into who should replace Will Still at Southampton, assess the departures of Alan Sheehan and Liam Manning from Swansea and Norwich City, as well as taking a look at Derek Adams' new role at a struggling Plymouth Argyle.

What a week, eh?

Listen to the full episode of the 72+ podcast and more on BBC Sounds.

Rob Law
BBC Tees commentator

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During his four months at Middlesbrough, Rob Edwards constantly stressed the importance of unity and togetherness.

Little did he know, but Boro was built on exactly those characteristics, often in the face of great adversity.

On Saturday, Middlesbrough was a town galvanised not because of one man - but in spite of him.

The news of Edwards' desire to leave the club currently second in the Championship, for a Wolverhampton Wanderers side rooted to the bottom of the Premier League, threatened to derail not just Boro's weekend but their season as a whole.

'Next manager is in for a treat'

There were many question marks over the match with Birmingham City. Would the atmosphere be affected? How would players react? Who would be in the dugout? We got our answers tenfold.

The atmosphere? Electric! Every single supporter doing their best to lift those on the pitch. Many saying it was the best atmosphere of the season.

However you view it, it left no doubt in the players' minds that the town stood with them, even if their head coach did not.

The players? Well they fought for everything. Many of them putting their bodies on the line, epitomised by Matt Targett and captain Dael Fry. Both started the game, despite carrying knocks and needing injections before a ball was even kicked.

That leaves the man in the dugout, Adi Viveash. Someone not accustomed to the spotlight.

He'd never led a team until Saturday – something he described as a proud moment for him and his family.

I had the chance to interview him after the game and it was one of the most impressive displays I've witnessed in 10 years on the sports desk here.

He dealt with it all while speaking of resilience and determination, leaving very little doubt over his views on recent events.

Saturday epitomised everything that people love about this town and this club; honesty, unity and determination, no matter what is thrown at them.

Whoever takes over the reins is in for a treat.

Middlesbrough assistant boss Adi Viveash described taking charge in the absence of Rob Edwards as "a bit of a rollercoaster."

The 56-year-old was asked to assume managerial duties after Boro granted permission for manager Edwards to speak to Wolves.

Viveash said after the 2-1 win: "Today was about the players and the fans and they dovetailed together, they suffered together, and we've come out on the right side of an important victory.

"The positives were the resilience, the grit, and the fight we showed.

"It's not my first rodeo; I've been in the game a long time. We were asked by the club to prepare everything as normal.

"We were ready to go. It's been a bit of a rollercoaster."

Image source, Opta

Middlesbrough will seek to get back to winning ways after a mini-wobble as they welcome free-scoring Birmingham to The Riverside on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

Boro are three Championship games without a win and have fallen out of the automatic promotion places to third, following a 1-1 draw at home to Wrexham with a 3-0 capitulation at Watford last Saturday and then salvaging a last-ditch 1-1 draw at Leicester on Tuesday night.

Birmingham are up to ninth, only two points outside the play-off places, after back-to-back 4-0 home wins, over Portsmouth last Saturday and against previously unbeaten travellers Millwall on Tuesday.

Chris Davies' side have however taken only four points from their past six on the road, losing four of those games without scoring.

• Middlesbrough have won their past five league games against Birmingham; their longest ever winning streak against them in league action. They've also kept a clean sheet in four of those five victories, conceding just one goal overall.

• The last two times Middlesbrough have hosted Birmingham in league competition have ended in 1-0 victories for Boro (October 2022 and October 2023). Blues have failed to score in six of their last nine away league matches at the Riverside Stadium.

• Middlesbrough are unbeaten in their past eight home league matches (W5 D3), and haven't conceded more than once in any of their past 13 matches at the Riverside in the Championship (since a 3-2 defeat to Sunderland in February).

• Birmingham City have won three of their past four league games (L1), as many as they managed across their first 10 this season (W3 D3 L4) – the Blues last won three Championship matches in a row in August 2023.

• Middlesbrough have scored three goals from the 80th minute onwards to earn a draw in the Championship this season, their most such goals in a season since 2018-19 (also 3).

Image source, Shutterstock

Middlesbrough have cancelled their pre-match press conference with head coach Rob Edwards.

He was due to face the media at 13:00 GMT ahead of Boro's home game with Birmingham City on Saturday but that will now not take place.

BBC Tees also reports that Edwards did not take training at the club's Rockliffe Park base on Friday morning.

The 42-year-old is a leading candidate for the vacant post at Wolverhampton Wanderers and on Thursday the Teessiders rejected the Premier League club's approach to speak to him.

Since replacing Michael Carrick at Boro in the summer, Edwards has led the side to third with just two defeats in their opening 14 Championship games.

Middlesbrough defender Luke Ayling says Tuesday's hard-fought Championship draw at Leicester feels "like a win".

Ayling rose highest in the sixth minute of added time to rescue a point for Boro, who had been reduced to 10 men moments earlier with Alfie Jones being dismissed.

The defender told BBC Radio Tees: "We go away from that feeling like it's a win, we know we did enough to probably win the game.

"We felt like we were on top for most of the game, and then we give away another sloppy goal which has been a theme of our last few games.

"When we go down to 10 men and we come back and score a late goal, it's a great feeling, the dressing room is buzzing - it's a point, we wanted three, but we take it."

Ayling's equaliser was his first goal for the club, indeed his first since scoring for former side Leeds back in August 2023.

"It felt like the ball was up in the air for a while and I could see it was coming to the back stick," added the 34-year-old, who has featured in every league game for Boro so far this season.

"I knew if I timed my jump I could probably get on the back of the defender, I headed it and it felt like it took forever to go in, it was in slow motion, but when it hit the back of the net it's always a great feeling."

Listen to the full interview and more Boro content on BBC Sounds.

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Middlesbrough head coach Rob Edwards says he was thrilled with his side's "never say die" attitude as Luke Ayling's 96th-minute header rescued a draw away to Leicester City.

But the frustration came from the fact that Boro only claimed a point from a match in which they had more possession, more shots and shots on target, more corners and more touches in the opposition box than the Foxes.

"It feels like a win because of how it happened, but it should have been a win," Edwards told BBC Radio Tees. "The performance justified a win."

The draw sees Boro slip out of the top two and they are now one point behind Stoke City, but Edwards was happy with how side played three days after their 3-0 loss at Watford.

"We've dominated the game, so that was a really pleasing performance," he said. "That was a great reaction to a disappointment on Saturday.

"We've reacted really well and any time we've been defeated this season, we've responded with a good performance and a good result. And we've done it again."

Leicester will be seeking to get their promotion hopes back on track on Tuesday (19:45 GMT) when they welcome Middlesbrough to the King Power Stadium.

The Foxes have now lost their past three games in the league, and have registered just one win in five - they are 14th in the Championship.

Meanwhile, automatic promotion hopefuls Middlesbrough suffered a blow last time out, when Watford put three past them in just Boro's second loss of the season.

• Leicester went on a 14-game unbeaten run in the league against Middlesbrough between 2003 and 2017 (W6 D8), but Boro did the double over them in the 2023-24 campaign when the teams last met.

• Middlesbrough beat Leicester 2-1 in their most recent visit to the King Power Stadium in February 2024, but have not won consecutive league visits to the Foxes since 2000-01 and 2001-02 in the Premier League.

• Leicester are winless in their past six midweek (Tue/Wed/Thu) league games (D1 L5), since winning 3-1 at home to West Ham United in December 2024.

• Middlesbrough have won just two of their past 20 away league games against opponents that were relegated from the Premier League the season prior, beating Norwich in November 2022 and Leicester in February 2024 (D8 L10).

• Leicester manager Marti Cifuentes has lost all three of his league meetings with Middlesbrough - but has won both of his two meetings with Boro boss Rob Edwards, doing the double over his Luton side with QPR last season (2-1 both home and away), after the second of which Edwards stepped down from his role with the Hatters.