‘I love being boss of Boro’ – Carrick
MICHAEL Carrick says he loves being Middlesbrough head coach and remains hungry to bring success to the club – but says there is “no dramap” with regard to his contract and signing an extension.
Carrick penned a two-and-a-halfyear deal when joining the club in October 2022 which means his current deal will be up at the end of next season.
However, The Journal understands that positive conversations between club officials and Carrick have taken place, with a contract extension agreement quite close.
Though Boro haven’t had the season they would have wanted, there is an appreciation of the indirect factors such as injuries that have heavily impacted their campaign.
Internally, there remains a great deal of faith in Carrick and a desire for continuity and stability in the long-term, with the current head coach a key component of that.
While Carrick isn’t currently hung up on his contract situation, his enjoyment of the role certainly hasn’t waned in what has been a more difficult campaign than his first. He said: “I wouldn’t say it’s major in terms of a big deal, it’s not a big deal for me. I’m happy here.
“I’m relaxed about it. Everyone is clamouring for news on something, nothing has changed, I’m here, I love it here, I’m enjoying it.
“As I’ve said with the players, things will happen naturally in time. There’s no deadline, there’s no chasing, there’s no agendas. I’m just here and working hard. I’m happy, there are no issues, nothing has changed, I love it here.”
The question to Carrick came on the day that Boro celebrated the 20th anniversary of their famous Carling Cup win, which remains the only major trophy of the club’s history. This season saw Boro reach the semi-final of the same competition to whet the appetite for what success would look like for Carrick if he could deliver it on Teesside.
But on why such things haven’t increased his hunger for glory, Carrick said: “Not more hungry, no. That’s not disrespecting what’s going on now, the hunger is there. Of course, little things spur you on a little bit but that doesn’t change my hunger for success.
“You understand in football
there’s history and traditions you respect and you understand what successful teams look like and what it means to people. But certainly for me that hasn’t given me motivation because I didn’t need any more. That was already there. I wouldn’t say I sit here and think about what I’ll be remembered by.
“I work and do things the way I believe is right for me and the people around me. I try to do it in a respectful way, working hard and giving my best. Ultimately that takes care of what it’s going to be. Most set out to do things the right way and what they believe in. I’m no different to that. I certainly don’t sit here and plan week to week thinking about how it will make me look later on. I just try to be myself.”