New Middlesbrough manager Kim Hellberg has claimed that he has been a fan of the club since a young age, with their legendary 8-1 victory over Manchester City being one of his fondest memories.
Middlesbrough were shocked by the unexpected departure of former manager Rob Edwards to Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers earlier this month, just over four months after his summer arrival, and his choice to transfer to Molineux was met with widespread criticism from fans.
Boro were in the top two in the Championship at the time of Edwards’ departure, so the club wanted to make a quick appointment to keep their promotion push on track, and Hellberg was named their new head coach on Monday, leaving his role at Swedish club Hammarby to take over at the Riverside Stadium.
Hellberg led Hammarby to two consecutive second-place finishes in the Allsvenskan during his two seasons in charge, and it appeared that he was on his way to Swansea City after meeting with the Welsh club in London during the international break, but Boro hijacked the deal at the last minute to bring him to Teesside.
Hellberg, who was introduced to supporters on the ground prior to the game, watched Boro’s 4-2 defeat to leaders Coventry City from the stands on Tuesday night, and he will command his new squad for the first time on Saturday when they play in-form Derby County.
Kim Hellberg drops a Middlesbrough surprise involving Manchester City.
Hellberg said in his first news conference as Middlesbrough head coach on Thursday afternoon that he has been a fan of the club since he was a boy, and that one of his favorite memories is their spectacular 8-1 home triumph over Manchester City in May 2008.
City were managed by one of Hellberg’s Swedish compatriots at the time, the late Sven Goran Eriksson, and after Richard Dunne was sent off in the 15th minute, Boro annihilated them, with a double from Stewart Downing and a hat-trick from Afonso Alves adding to a memorable win.
Of course, it was a different age for City before Sheikh Mansour took over, but it is a day that Boro fans will remember forever, and it appears that it has also left an impression on Hellberg.
“What did I know about Middlesbrough before they contacted me?” Well, I remember they beat Man City 8-1 at The Riverside when (compatriot) Sven-Göran Eriksson was Man City’s coach!” Hellberg informed Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie.
“I know a lot about English football, and I enjoy it. I’ve been watching Middlesbrough since I was about five or six years old.”
Middlesbrough fans should be optimistic as the Kim Hellberg era begins.
Middlesbrough would not have wanted to make a managerial change after their great start to the season under Edwards, but they must now put any lingering disappointment from his controversial transfer to Wolves behind them and look forward to Hellberg’s appointment.
Hellberg has a reputation as a highly regarded young coach in his native Sweden, and while he will require time to adjust to the Championship, he appears to be an exciting option for Boro.
It is apparent that Hellberg has studied English football for some time, and he has previously been linked with Sunderland and Swansea, so he will have done his homework on the second division, while inheriting a great group that remains in a strong place in the table.
Hellberg faces a difficult start to his rule at the Riverside Stadium against a Derby County team that has won six of their last seven games, but three points against John Eustace’s men would be the ideal way for him to quickly win over the Boro crowd.
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