Boro Appoint Hellberg as Manager

Middlesbrough have appointed Kim Hellberg as manager. 

Hellberg has joined Boro from Sweden’s Hammarby where he led the club to consecutive second-placed finishes in Allsvenskan in the last two seasons, with the club having paid compensation of just over £400k to sign the 37-year-old.

David Selini will too join as assistant manager, whilst Adi Viveash will remain part of the coaching staff

Middlesbrough’s Head of Football, Kieran Scott explained that he had been “monitoring” Hellberg for a period of time, with the Swede having achieved four separate promotions within Swedish football.

“He’s well known in the circles of European football as an up-and-coming head coach that was catching a lot of people’s eye and was doing really well at Hammarby.

“We met a few candidates, but Kim was high on my list of people I wanted to speak to.”

Scott, Neil Bausor and club owner & chairman, Steve Gibson met Hellberg and “were very impressed” with Hellberg’s conduct, with confidence that he can progress the team as they sit second in the Championship standings.

Hellberg added that he is “delighted” to take the reins after Rob Edwards left the club to join Wolves in the international break, and quietly complimented his predecessor for implementing a style which suits him and how he wants to manage the team,

“A lot of things make Boro the perfect choice for me.

“The way they play and want to play, together with the crowd, suits me and how I want to work.

“I want us to play quick and aggressive football, and to try to win the ball as quickly as possible if we don’t have it. I want us to be quick on goal and create a lot of chances.

“I’ve been very impressed with the players and how they’ve worked so far this season, and I’m looking forward to getting to work with them.”

Viveash will take charge of Boro’s home match against Coventry on Tuesday 25 November at 7:45pm GMT before Hellberg takes official charge of first-team training, with his first match in the dugout coming at home to Derby on Saturday 29 November at 3pm.

Hellberg is only the second foreign manager after Aitor Karanka to have been appointed manager under Gibson’s reign.