Kim Hellberg has been hired as the new Middlesbrough manager, as the promotion-chasing Boro find their replacement for Rob Edwards, who left for Premier League strugglers Wolves.
Kim Hellberg has officially delivered his first comments as Middlesbrough’s new manager.
The former Hammarby IF head coach was introduced at the Riverside on Monday afternoon, with Boro writing on X: “We are thrilled to reveal the appointment of Kim Hellberg as our new head coach. Welcome to Boro, Kim.”
And the 37-year-old was ready to share his thoughts on the appointment. In an interview with club media, Hellberg stated, “I’m delighted to have been appointed as Boro’s head coach, and I’m very proud to be here.” Boro is an excellent choice for me due to a variety of factors.
“The way they play and want to play, along with the crowd, suits me and how I want to work. I want us to play quick and aggressive football, and if we don’t have the ball, we should try to get it as soon as possible.”
“I want us to be quick on goal and create plenty of opportunities. I’ve been very impressed with the players and their work so far this season, and I’m excited to get to work with them.
Boro, who sit second in the Championship, moved quickly to appoint Hellberg after losing Rob Edwards to the Premier League’s bottom side Wolves earlier this month. The 42-year-old was appointed as the successor to Vitor Pereira, and it proved a controversial departure from the Riverside Stadium for the former Luton Town manager, who had been given a chance in the summer to reignite his career with Boro.
In terms of Hellberg’s arrival, rumors in Sweden indicated that Boro swooped in to land the manager from beneath the noses of second-tier opponents Swansea City. It was suggested that Hellberg was poised for a move to the North East after Boro triggered his three million kronor (£240,600) release clause.
Following Edwards’ resignation, several former Premier League coaches, including Steven Gerrard, Gary O’Neil, and Brendan Rodgers, were connected with a return to the bench.
However, Boro have chosen the tactician who led Hammarby to its greatest league position in Sweden’s top flight since 2001, finishing second in 2024.
Hellberg joins Boro seven points behind Frank Lampard’s Coventry City and three points ahead of Stoke City in third.
Following Boro’s 1-1 draw against Oxford United on Saturday under interim manager Adi Viveash, his first game in command will be a mouth-watering match against Coventry on Tuesday night at the Riverside.
In his own farewell message, Edwards confessed that Wolves were the only club he would have left Middlesbrough for, calling the decision the “toughest” of his career.
“This has been one of the toughest decisions on my career,” he told me. “Truthfully, I would not have considered leaving Middlesbrough for any other team.
“Wolves is an important club to me. It’s where I learned to play and coach, and it’s still where my family lives. It has always been my goal to return, and these opportunities do not come along very often.
“Middlesbrough is an incredible club, with a fantastic owner, staff, and passionate supporters. I want to thank everyone at the club for the opportunity to lead this squad; it is a great group of players, and I genuinely hope and believe they will deliver success this season.”
“I couldn’t be more proud of the environment we created together and how it all came together so quickly – the players, the staff, and the fans who drive everything.
“I sincerely wish everyone at Middlesbrough all the very best for the rest of the season and beyond.”
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