Rob Edwards must end Middlesbrough’s eight-year Premier League absence in his first season as Boro boss

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The last time Middlesbrough were in the top flight of English football amid Rob Edwards’ imminent appointment as Michael Carrick’s successor.

Middlesbrough ended the 2024/25 Championship campaign in tenth place, and following that, head coach Michael Carrick was sacked by Boro earlier in June.

After weeks of speculation, and a meeting with Middlesbrough owner Steve Gibson recently, Rob Edwards will become the new Boro manager to spearhead the club’s 2025/26 Championship campaign.

Former Luton Town boss Edwards was chosen as Carrick’s successor by the club’s hierarchy, after Boro failed to land “first choice” target Steve Cooper.

After leaving Luton earlier in the season before their League One relegation, Edwards must prove he is a Carrick upgrade and go one further than his predecessor did by ending Boro’s lengthy absence from the top flight.

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When were Middlesbrough last in the Premier League?

After Middlesbrough fans named the manager they wanted to replace Carrick as current Sheffield Wednesday Danny Rohl, pressure is on Welshman Edwards to succeed this season.

One Championship expert has fears over what Boro’s style of play will be like under Edwards, given the difference in football philosophies between himself and his predecessor Carrick.

Carrick was close to taking Boro back to the top flight in his debut campaign, but lost in the Championship play-off semi-finals against Coventry City in the 2022/23 second tier season.

Edwards will be hoping he can do what Carrick could not, and end Boro’s eight-year absence from the Premier League, which will stretch to nine years by the new year.

The last time Boro were in the top flight was in the 2016/17 season, which was their 15th season in the Premier League since their first relegation in 2008/09.

Under manager Aitor Karanka and caretaker Steve Agnew after Karanka’s sacking, Boro endured a disastrous campaign, finished second from bottom in the top flight table.

It was a surprising decision from the Boro hierarchy to let Karanka go in March 2017, given the club had one of the best defensive records in the Premier League when he was dismissed with two months of the season left to play.

In Middlesbrough’s managers ranked by win percentage, Karanka still ranks as the best in Boro history.

When comparing Boro’s last starting XI from the ill-fated 2016/17 top flight season to the final starting XI under Carrick’s tutelage, it highlights how times have changed at the Riverside ahead of Edwards’ debut term.

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Middlesbrough’s last Premier League XI compared to last 24/25 Championship XI

Boro’s final game in the relegation season of 2016/17 came against eventual top flight title winners Chelsea.

Boro were beaten 3-0 at Chelsea thanks to goals from Diego Costa, Marcos Alonso, and Nemanja Matic.

Boro’s last Premier League XI compared to last 24/25 Championship XI

None of the Boro squad from the 2016/17 relegation season remains at the club.

Edwards, as well as the Boro hierarchy and supporters, will be hoping that the club can end its eight-year absence from the top flight come the conclusion of the 2025/26 Championship campaign.