Middlesbrough boss Kim Hellberg has denied suggestions that he joined the club just for a larger wage.
According to Fotboll Skanalen, who emphasized his statements from an interview with Fotbollsmorgon, Hellberg wants to make it plain that money was not the driving force for his decision.
Hellberg was appointed Middlesbrough manager at the end of November, after Rob Edwards left for Wolves. He arrived with a high reputation from his time at Hammarby in Sweden, where his success drew interest from other Championship clubs. Hammarby attempted to keep him as well, offering him a new contract with much better terms. Sports director Mikael Hjelmberg even said the concept was “very good by Swedish standards.”
Despite this, sources claim Hellberg is earning significantly more at Middlesbrough than he would have on Hammarby’s increased offer, leading some to speculate that his transfer was financially driven. Hellberg disagrees.
“Sometimes I think it’s a little unfair to suggest I just jumped for the money,” he told me.
“Throughout this time, I’ve had multiple opportunities to earn ten times more in various nations, but it has never piqued my attention.
“I think most people recognize that I gave everything to Hammarby. But I have always wanted to work in England.
“I doubt I would have gone anyplace else if an English opportunity hadn’t presented itself. A chance like this may not come up again, no matter what happens next year.”
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