Aitor Karanka: Nottingham Forest appoint ex-Middlesbrough boss as new manager

Last updated on .From the section Nottm Forestcomments142

Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka watches his side against Bristol City in the Championship
Aitor Karanka won 80 of his 171 games at Middlesbrough in his first managerial job

Championship club Nottingham Forest have named former Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka as their new boss.

Karanka has agreed a two-and-a-half-year deal to replace Mark Warburton, who was sacked on 31 December after nine months in charge.

The 44-year-old Spaniard has been out of work since being dismissed by Boro in March 2017.

Karanka spent three and a half years on Teesside, earning promotion to the Premier League in the 2015-16 season.

But he was sacked with the club in the relegation zone following a run of 10 games without a win.

His first game as Reds boss will be against Aston Villa at the City Ground on 13 January, while he can also look forward to an FA Cup fourth-round tie at Hull City following Forest's 4-2 victory over Arsenal on Sunday.

Forest are 14th in the Championship, 11 points below the play-off places.

Chairman Nicholas Randall said: "He is an exceptional candidate who fully subscribes to the vision of the club's owners and board for the future of the club.

"Our objective is clear: we want to continue building this fantastic football club and lead it to a bright future.

"The wonderful supporters of the club deserve success and a return to the Premier League. We are all working hard off the pitch to achieve this goal and we believe that Aitor will ensure that we can get the job done on the field of play."

Karanka is Nottingham Forest's 10th full-time manager since Billy Davies' dismissal in June 2011.

The former Real Madrid assistant had reportedly been close to leaving Middlesbrough in March 2016 after a training-ground row, with similar reports preceding his eventual departure 12 months later.

He had helped Middlesbrough avoid relegation from the Championship in his first season at the club, having taken over with them 16th in the table, before leading them back to the Premier League after a seven-year absence in the following campaign.

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142 comments

  • Instead of becoming a manager again, I really think that Aitor should consider a career as a referee then the crowd could sing " The referee's Karanka"

  • He got us promoted and restored a bit of pride back in the club by forging a great team spirit and bond with the fans. He also gets the team exceptionally well drilled and you wont concede many with him in charge. My only warning to any forest fans would be watch out for his man management skills - I'm heard he can be a bit abrasive, but he might have learned. I like forest as well, so good luck.

  • 10 managers in less than 7 years? Even by today's standards that must be close to a record?

  • What more does Gary Brazil have to do? They beat Arsenal 4-2!

  • @14 there is no club called Notts Forest

  • Football. The only industry where getting the sack is rewarded by a new, more lucrative contract five minutes later !

    PS. Well done Forest, great club and a much deserved victory over the Gooners!

  • Liked to see GB given the job but feel the board wanted experience with someone who’s got the tee shirt already. Trust GB continues to shine at the club just as his protégés did yesterday. Great to see and some felt he should be given the task.
    Good luck Aitor, you inherit a fantastic side with an academy that’s going places. With your past experience we need to be back where we belong. COYR

  • The " Rent A Manager" merry go round is now pulling in at Forest. Why do the larger clubs never seem to give an up & coming manager like Flynn at Newport, or Hurst at Shrewsbury's a chance? They work with ridiculously low budgets & yet get results.Will no one take a chance on young British managers?

  • Are there no up and coming british managers around nowadays? Seems to be the same recycled managers all the time. How does a young British manager get a chance????? Best of luck to him though

  • 20. Posted by kevin_sandwiches on

    no one cares about tinpot forest!!!

    So a tinpot club that has won more Euroepan Cups than all of the London Clubs combined (with all their dubiously sourced 'investment') and has a higher average home attendence than 50% of the current premier league clubs.

    No doubt your sandwiches are made of spam...jeez

  • Won't matter who has the job, our squad isn't good enough for promotion but pretty sure we won't go down either so let's go all out for the FA Cup😎😎

  • As a Boro fan I would say you've bagged a good manager and one that might turn out to be a great manager. Good luck Forest
    #UTB

  • 49.Lost Sock
    Your post was going really well until you wanted Leeds back in the Premier League. The Premier League is all the better for them not being in it.

  • Fighting
    Off
    Relegation
    Every
    Saturday
    Teatime

    Just joking, I'm a Derby fan, but miss the days when Forest finished third, and the days when we were in the Prem with you and Leicester.

    Hopefully the East Midlands will be as represented in the Prem in seasons to come.

  • Brazil didn't want the job as he enjoys working with the u23, good appointment I think, thanks Brazil though for helping us through another tricky period top bloke!

  • People saying they should've given Gary Brazil the job don't have a clue. He doesn't want it for a start and he is much better staying with the academy team bringing through the younger players

  • Welcome aboard the City Ground rollercoaster ride Aitor.
    A fair appointment for us, better than some in the frame over the last week. Sort out our defending, recognise and keep our academy stars & acknowledge the work Gary Brazil is doing.
    You Reds.

  • You’d have to say he did a decent job at Boro, bit negative when they went up but if Forest stand by him and they get some consistency, then should be a good apt. Important to keep progressing their young players.

  • It is Nottingham Forest and Notts County - not Notts Forest!

  • Gary Brazil has said he doesn't want the job,can U blame him,he doing a great job with the academy & that counts for a lot,hope Karanka can do do the business & hope he got some cash to spend.

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