Having missed out on the playoff places last season, Michael Carrick was relieved of his duties as head coach. Rob Edwards was swiftly unveiled as his replacement, signing a three-year deal at the Riverside Stadium.
Embed from Getty ImagesWho is Rob Edwards?
Most notably, Edwards joins the club with a Premier League promotion on his resume, winning promotion with Luton Town via the playoffs in 2023.
His Luton side were praised in both the Championship and Premier League for their style of play, which should excite the Middlesbrough supporters.
His breakthrough in management came at Forest Green Rovers, where he was appointed in 2021 while the club were in League Two. That season, Edwards and his side would win the title and he was named the EFL League Two Manager of the Season, having picked up the Manager of the Month award three times along the way.
Embed from Getty ImagesFollowing his successes, he was appointed as the new head coach at Watford, making the leap to the Championship. However, his stint would only last until September, falling victim to the revolving door policy with coaches at the club.
Just months later, he joined bitter rivals Luton whom he guided to the Premier League in the same season. His side remained competitive for a large portion of the season, though were ultimately relegated back to the Championship having finished six points from safety.
Embed from Getty ImagesEdwards’ tactics
Edwards most commonly implements a back-three system, with wing backs pushing high to create. The 3-5-2 system placed an importance on wide players such as Alfie Doughty overlapping, making them a focal point of attack.
The two striker system, which has become a rarity in the modern game, allowed them to play with two out-and-out centre forwards. The most common pairing during his time at Luton was Carlton Morris and Elijah Adebayo, whose games complimented each other well.
As for Middlesbrough, they possess an array of young talent that Edwards may look towards. None more so than midfielder Hayden Hackney, who recently won the U21 European Championships with England.
Embed from Getty ImagesEdwards is no stranger to giving youth a chance, having done so at club level, and worked with the England youth system at St. George’s Park.
One thing that his Luton side were renowned for was their team ethic and spirit. This was evident with the health of Tom Lockyer, who suffered two cardiac arrests while captain of the club.
The way that both the team and Edwards dealt with the situation is testament to what type of person and leader he is in a personal sense.
Embed from Getty ImagesWhat does this mean for Middlesbrough?
Like any new coach, Edwards will want to recruit his own players to best implement his style of play. According to Teeside Live, the club are looking to strengthen this summer, with Edwards identifying the key areas that need reinforcements.
This includes the striker position, especially with Josh Coburn leaving for Milwall on a permanent deal and Emmanuel Latte Lath departing in January. As things stand, Tommy Conway is the only natural number 9, so at least one new recruit is imperative.
Overall, the appointment should bring optimism to Boro fans who can expect attacking football and a team and head coach that will represent them with determination and passion.
Embed from Getty ImagesWritten by Callum Pawley
INMR FOOTBALL 
Leave a comment