While other chairmen across the country have found an itchy trigger finger too much to cope with and made the decision to change their manager, Aitor Karanka has been able to reflect on two years in charge at Championship side Middlesbrough
The Teessiders have taken the former Real Madrid defender to their hearts, with the occasion, dubbed the ‘Karankaversary' by the local press, proving that foreign managers can make an impact in one of the toughest leagues in England. Karanka has rejuvenated the hopes and aspirations of Middlesbrough fans who may have been forgiven for thinking that their six year-long hiatus from the Premier League was never going to end prior to his arrival in November 2013.
Bookmakers always believed that Middlesbrough would be back playing top flight football sooner rather than later, but although his predecessors failed to meet expectations, it appears that Karanka has what it takes to do a job that Gordon Strachan and Tony Mowbray were unable to. He has transformed the philosophy and playing style at the club with positive results, and although the 42-year-old still has a lot to learn, it has become apparent that Karanka is on the road to enjoying a fine managerial career.
Punters will find when they look around for competitive football betting odds that Betway, among many others, have placed Middlesbrough amongst the strong promotion favourites this season following their agonising play-off final defeat at the hands of Norwich in May, and although they currently sit fourth in the table following a heavy 3-0 defeat at Hull before the current international break, the Teessiders are well placed to catch Steve Bruce's side at the top once the Championship resumes.
The campaign will already be remembered for the famous victory at Manchester United in the League Cup, but Karanka is fully aware that the pressure is on his shoulders to meet expectations and go one further than least season in the league. He has already alluded to going through one of the toughest periods in his young managerial career after picking up just one point from a possible nine at the start of October, but considering the Spaniard pulled Middlesbrough away from a potentially perilous slide towards the relegation zone when he arrived at the Riverside Stadium, it is clear that Karanka is taking the club in the right direction.
Turning down Crystal Palace in favour of Middlesbrough was considered a major coup from Steve Gibson who was able to sell the club and its project to Karanka, who gained invaluable experience as Jose Mourinho's assistant at Real Madrid and, like fellow coach Paul Clement, fancied his chances of becoming a manager. Although Crystal Palace have excelled in the Premier League under Alan Pardew, the same could be said of Karanka at Middlesbrough in the Championship; several of his players have spoken of the positivity and team ethic that defines how the club play, with his intense training regimes helping to get the very best from the players on the pitch.
It is these qualities, along with the players at Karanka's disposal, that may help Middlesbrough fulfil resounding odds of 4/6 favourites to beat managerless QPR at home in their next league fixture. There are rumours that Karanka could be facing Clarence Seedorf in the dugout on Friday, but while other chairmen are looking around for a manager who will make a similar impact at their club, the Spaniard is firmly at home at Middlesbrough.
