Middlesbrough managers ranked by win percentage, and how Michael Carrick compares

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We have taken a look at the list of the top ten Middlesbrough managers ranked by their win percentage throughout the club’s history.

Middlesbrough are currently being managed by Michael Carrick and are in the midst of a difficult season.

Boro have struggled with injuries and consistency in 2024/25 and are in danger of failing to make the play-offs this term.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
6	West BromWest Brom	38	13	18	7	48	34	14	57
7	Bristol CityBristol City	38	14	15	9	49	41	8	57
8	MiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough	38	15	9	14	57	48	9	54
9	BlackburnBlackburn	38	15	7	16	42	40	2	52
10	WatfordWatford	38	15	7	16	47	51	-4	52

After three years at the club, Carrick’s Middlesbrough future has been called into question as promotion continues to elude the Teesiders.

But despite recent woes and speculation the former Manchester United man could be sacked, he is still one of Boro’s all-time greatest managers when looking at win percentage.

This list of Middlesbrough managers only includes personnel who have taken charge of over 20 matches, otherwise, Craig Liddle would be top with a 100 percent win rate for his one game in the dugout back in 2017.

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10. Peter McWilliam – 40.24%

There will be very few people alive today who are able to recall Peter McWilliam being manager of Middlesbrough.

He took up the role in April 1927 before departing in March 1934 after 328 games and one Second Division title.

9. Bryan Robson – 40.45%

Born just down the road in Durham, Bryan Robson was appointed Middlesbrough manager ahead of the 1994/95 season.

He secured promotion to the Premier League that campaign, winning Divison One ahead of Bolton Wanderers.

Robson also took the Teesiders to two League Cup finals, both of which they lost in 1997 and 1998.

8. Bob Dennison – 41.47%

Dennison is one of the longest-serving Middlesbrough managers in the club’s history, taking charge of 381 games following his appointment in July 1954.

He eventually left the North East outfit in 1963, going on to manage Hereford United before a brief spell as Coventry City’s caretaker manager in 1972.

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7. Stan Anderson – 41.87%

Anderson became Boro boss in April 1966 and endured a mixed stint in the north of England.

The Reds were relegated and then promoted once more to the Second Division.

He eventually resigned in 1973 to be replaced by Jack Charlton.

6. Andy Aitken – 42.11%

Andy Aiteken is the only player/manager on this list, joining Boro from rivals Newcastle United all the way back in 1906.

After 95 games, the Scotsman left Middlesbrough for Leicester Fosse – now known as Leicester City.

5. Tony Pulis – 43.75%

Fresh off the back of a disastrous spell under Garry Monk, Tony Pulis was brought in to steady the ship.

The former Stoke City boss did take Middlesbrough to the play-offs in 2017/18 but they lost out to Aston Villa.

After a nightmare end to the following campaign, however, Pulis left the Riverside Stadium on the back of a seventh-place finish.

4. Jack Charlton – 45.60%

After a prolific playing career with Leeds United, Charlton took up his first role in management with Middlesbrough in 1973.

He won promotion from the Second Division in 1973/74 and the Anglo-Scottish Cup in the 1975/76 campaign while at Ayresome Park.

Charlton then left for Sheffield Wednesday in 1977 but returned for a brief spell as Boro’s caretaker boss in 1984.

3. Garry Monk – 46.2%

Following their relegation from the Premier League in 2016/17, Middlesbrough let Garry Monk spend £50m in the summer of 2017 to try and secure a swift promotion from the Championship.

Despite being one of the favourites to go up that season after their hefty spend, however, Monk’s time in charge proved disastrous.

He lasted just 26 games before being sacked and replaced by the aforementioned Pulis with the club sat ninth in the second tier.

2. Michael Carrick – 46.88%

Carrick took Middlesbrough to the play-offs in 2022/23, finishing fourth in the second tier.

However, he has since failed to get the North East outfit back into the top-six, finishing four points outside the play-offs in 2023/24.

It remains to be seen what will happen in the remainder of the current season but as things stand, it seems unlikely promotion to the Premier League will be achieved.

1. Aitor Karanka – 47.06%

One of the best Middlesbrough managers in recent memory, Aitor Karanka completely transformed Middlesbrough during his spell at the Riverside.

His first full season saw Boro reach the Championship play-off final before losing out to Norwich City at Wembley.

The Reds then won automatic promotion to the top-flight in 2015/16 but after struggling in the Premier League, Karanka was sacked in March 2017.

It was an interesting decision given Middlesbrough had one of the best defensive records in the league when we was let go.

Steve McClaren win percentage as Middlesbrough manager

Middlesbrough fans are probably surprised to see Steve McClaren’s name left of the list.

The former Manchester United man is the most successful manager in the modern era for Boro, helping them win the League Cup in 2004 and taking them to their first and only European final versus Sevilla in 2006.

Despite all the success, however, McClaren only managed a 38.80 win percentage during his time on Teesside.