Middlesbrough by James Cumiskey
In 1986 the club was doomed to liquidation but was saved with 10 minutes to spare by local business man and current chairman Steve Gibson.- In 2004 the club earned it’s first piece of major silverware by beating Bolton 2-1 in the Carling Cup final. Just 128 years after the club was founded. They will have to cause a few shocks if they are going to claim a second trophy this season.
- Boro’s record signing is Afonso Alves, costing the club £12.7 million from Dutch side Heerenveen. He failed to live up to the price tag in a more physical league, scoring just 10 goals in 42 appearances. Since their spell in the Premier League Middlesbrough have had to cut the costs with an emphasis on using the club’s youth system.
- Current manager, Aitor Karanka, is the first non-British manager to take the reigns at Boro in the club’s 138 year history. The likeable Spaniard was Jose Mourinho’s right hand man during his three year tenure at Real Madrid. Boro fans will hope that Karanka will lead them to promotion in his first full season at the helm at the Riverside.
