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Middlesbrough have made an outstanding start to life under Rob Edwards in the Championship.
Middlesbrough appointed former Luton Town boss Edwards in the summer to replace Michael Carrick, and that has proven to be an inspired call.
After five wins and a draw from their opening six games, Middlesbrough sit top of the Championship table on course in their promotion quest.
Edwards surpassed Bryan Robson’s Middlesbrough record after their latest victory against West Brom to oversee Boro’s best start to a season in the club’s 149-year history.
Now, Edwards has revealed what was the “biggest draw” to become Middlesbrough boss, and the Riverside faithful will agree.
Rob Edwards was drawn to size of Middlesbrough and ‘what could be achieved’
Middlesbrough fans were not impressed with Edwards during pre-season, but the upturn in form seen in the Championship so far has been breathtaking.
Edwards’ coaching acumen has seen the Boro backline look rock solid, while their litany of attacking talents wreak havoc on second tier defences.
Middlesbrough were last in the top flight in 2017, and if Edwards continues to get it right, he could very well end the club’s Premier League absence, which is what drew the head coach to Teesside.
Edwards told the You Are My Boro podcast: “I felt that I wanted to wait for what I thought was an opportunity I deserved as well, and felt that we could have success.
“The owner, the whole you know fit just felt right. Steve (Gibson) if he sees good work going on,
there’s not many now English, British owners who are supporters of their football club still in the Championship and above in the Premier League.
“So that was obviously massive appeal. And then working with a group of people then that, you know, the decision makers with Neil (Bausor) and with Kieran (Scott) and and those guys, it just felt like a really good it felt like the right thing if the opportunity was to come along.
“And then probably the biggest draw was the size of the football club and what could be achieved here if we got it right.
“You do have a chance at a club like this. Even if you’ve not been in the Premier League for a decade, you have a chance at a club like this, because we do have good players, we’ve got a big big fan base, fantastic facilities.
“It’s a big football club and I wanted to test myself and take a risk and back myself and try and try and take it on, you know, and even if things don’t work out, then I can always look back and go, you know what, I tried. I gave it everything and and and I was brave.”
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Rob Edwards is Middlesbrough’s signing of the summer
Middlesbrough enjoyed one of the most impressive summer transfer windows of any Championship side amid Edwards’ arrival.
Several marquee signings, including £6.5m David Strelec and former Hull City defender Alfie Jones, were brought to the Riverside alongside some excellent loan acquisitions.
Middlesbrough signed Alan Browne on loan from Sunderland, and brought in Sverre Nypan on loan from Manchester City to bolster their midfield ranks with top flight quality.
Despite this, Boro owner Steve Gibson’s best decision was appointing Edwards, and he will be hoping to see the unbeaten start continue when Middlesbrough travel to Southampton on Saturday.