Monk lands Boro job as Hull appoint Slutsky
Garry Monk has been handed the task of smashing the Sky Bet Championship with Middlesbrough.
While Hull City, relegated from the Premier League alongside Boro and Sunderland, have named former Russia boss Leonid Slutsky as their new manager.
Boro appointed the former Swansea City and Leeds United boss yesterday on an undisclosed contract.
Chairman Steve Gibson beat off strong competition for the much-vaunted 38-year-old,includingChampionship rivals Sunderland.
And the challenge for Monk is clear following one emphatic sentence from his new chairman at the end of last season.
“We will smash the league next year,” said Gibson. “We want to go back up as champions.”
It is likely to be one of the opening questions when Monk is unveiled at a media conference on Monday.
Monk was one of a series of potential candidates to whom chairman Gibson spoke, including Aitor Karanka’s assistant Steve Agnew, who took charge for the final 11 games of last season, before making his choice.
He was available after parting company with Leeds last month after guiding the Elland Road club to the fringes of the Championship playoffs, only for the two parties to fail to reach agreement over an extension.
Karanka was sacked Riverside in Marc,h with Boro deep in relegation trouble, and former Sunderland midfielder Agnew was handed the task of halting an alarming slide.
However, he was unable to do so and, in the process, any chance of landing the job on a permanent basis dissipated.
Monk will at least have the core of the squad which won promotion in 2015-16 at his disposal, and with Gibson having vowed to “smash” the Championship this time around, there could be money to spend too.
However, there will also be a clear-out to be managed – Victor Valdes and Brad Guzan have already left, while loan signings Calum Chambers and Alvaro Negredo have returned to their parent clubs – with several players having spoken openly of dressing room unrest in the wake of relegation. At Hull, 46-year-old Slutsky replaces Marco Silva, who has taken over at Watford.
The ex-CSKA Moscow chief said: “I am delighted and I am very much looking forward to the challenge of guiding the club back to the Premier League.
“I already know that this is an important club with a big and loyal fanbase. I’ve had a good feeling about it ever since meeting (owners) the Allam family and I can’t wait to get started next week.”
Vice-chairman Ehab Allam said: “After a thorough recruitment process, Leonid’s attention to detail, thoughtsonplayingstyleand his ambition made him the stand-out candidate.
“Leonid has enjoyed success at both club and international level and I am excited about his plans for guiding us back towards the Premier League.”