Sky Sports pundit explains why Middlesbrough should be ‘keeping hold’ of Michael Carrick, ‘he needs…’

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The future of Middlesbrough manager Michael Carrick was cast into doubt at the end of the 2024/25 normal Championship season.

Middlesbrough lost to Coventry City on the final day, failing to make the play-offs for the second season in a row.

Boro ended the campaign in 10th place, their worst league finish since Michael Carrick took charge back in 2022.

Immediately after the match, Carrick’s Middlesbrough future was questioned by the Sky commentator.

We have since learned that Gary O’Neil is open to becoming Boro manager should the role become available.

• READ MORE: Middlesbrough and Millwall in transfer battle for 6ft 5 defender wanted by Bundesliga clubs

Middlesbrough told to keep Michael Carrick

But one Sky Sports pundit thinks Carrick should be kept in charge of the Teessiders.

Middlesbrough sold Emmanuel Latte Lath in January and also lost Ben Doak to injury for the final few months of the season.

And speaking this week, Lee Hendrie thinks that Carrick ‘deserves the opportunity’ and needs ‘resources’ to take the club forward.

He told Football League World: “I think Carrick should stay at the football club. That’s my personal opinion. I think he’s been close. They got rid of Emmanuel Latte Lath, and that was a big blow to them going into the latter stages of the season.

“You need big players, key players, that can get you over the line, and squad depth. I know that they brought certain players in: Finn Azaz, Morgan Whittaker, Tommy Conway – they’ve brought lots of players in that certainly can give them a platform to go by.

“You hear good reports about what he’s (Carrick) like in the dressing room and on the training field. So for me, I’d be keeping Michael Carrick. Personally, I feel that he deserves the opportunity with the way that they’re slowly and gradually bringing players in to work off a decent platform.

“They had some good loans in, and they lost the likes of Ben Doak as well. So listen, I think he’s got bags of potential. If he goes, I think there would be lots of clubs looking at him for a vacancy, because I think his style and his way is very good.

“I just think that he needs the resources to take a club forward, and I think he needed a little bit more at Boro. But clubs like that want success; they want to get in the Premier League, and they haven’t done it again.

“So, it’ll be a big shout, but for me, I’d be keeping hold of Carrick.”

Michael Carrick comments on his Middlesbrough future

Carrick commented on his Middlesbrough future shortly after the loss to Coventry on May 3.

He said: “I’m carrying on, we’ve got a good squad and my focus is carrying on to what I can say to the boys, today and tomorrow, and get ready for another good season.

“We’ve got a good squad, good stability within the group, we’re doing a lot of good things and if we can add to that, and improve, things can look up from there.”

As of writing, the ex-Manchester United and England midfielder remains in charge of the club.

EFL Analysis are aware that Steve Cooper and Lee Carsley are on Middlesbrough’s list of managers they like.