Middlesbrough Football Club has officially announced the appointment of Rob Edwards as their new head coach, marking a significant move as the Championship club looks to climb the ranks after a 10th-place finish last season. Edwards, 42, has signed a three-year contract and takes over from Michael Carrick, who was relieved of his duties following the club’s failure to secure a play-off spot. This appointment signals a fresh chapter for Middlesbrough as they aim to build on their potential and push for promotion.
Rob Edwards brings a wealth of experience to the Riverside Stadium, having previously managed Forest Green Rovers, Watford, and notably Luton Town. His most celebrated achievement came with Luton, guiding the club from League One to the Premier League in 2023, a feat secured by a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Coventry City in the play-off final. Though Luton struggled to maintain their Premier League status and Edwards departed by mutual consent in January 2025 amid a difficult Championship campaign, his track record of promotions and tactical acumen make him an exciting prospect for Boro.
Edwards expressed his enthusiasm upon taking the helm at Middlesbrough: “It’s a real privilege to be given the opportunity to be head coach of this great football club. It’s something that’s not lost on me, how big this is, how important this is and what it means to people. There is an amazing fanbase here.” He added that the role felt right immediately, stating, “If I was going to come back in, I wanted to come back in at a place where we had a chance and we have a really good chance here.” Edwards also praised the club’s owner, Steve Gibson, emphasizing the support and resources available: “We have a brilliant owner who historically gives his coaches time, support and the tools needed to try and be successful. I can’t wait to get started now.”
Edwards’ tenure at Luton saw highs and lows: after the historic promotion, the club faced immediate relegation and struggled in the Championship, ultimately falling to 20th by the time of his departure. Prior to his success at Luton, Edwards also guided Forest Green to promotion from League Two, showcasing his ability to elevate teams through the English football tiers. His Championship record includes 24 wins from 62 matches, a win rate of 38.7%, averaging 1.5 points per game, with his teams scoring and conceding 73 goals each during that period.
Joining Edwards on the coaching staff are Adi Viveash and Harry Watling, who will serve as his assistant coaches. Viveash, 55, returns to the game after leaving Coventry City last summer and brings a rich background, having been Mark Robins’ assistant for seven years. During his time at Coventry, he helped the team achieve two promotions in three years and guided them to three Wembley appearances through cup runs and play-off campaigns. Viveash’s departure from Coventry was reportedly due to a fallout with Robins, and his exit was lamented by Coventry’s owner, Doug King, who expressed anger at having to let him go. Before his time at Coventry, Viveash spent nine years in Chelsea’s academy, playing a pivotal role in developing many Premier League players, which aligns well with Middlesbrough’s focus on player development.
Harry Watling, meanwhile, is one of the youngest English coaches to earn his UEFA Pro Licence at just 33. His coaching journey includes stints in the academies of Chelsea, Millwall, and West Ham, as well as head coach roles at Hartford Athletic and Ebbsfleet United. Watling also served as assistant to Michael Beale at QPR and Rangers, bringing valuable experience to Middlesbrough’s backroom team. The appointments of Viveash and Watling come after the recent departures of Jonathan Woodgate and Graeme Carrick, alongside Michael Carrick, signaling a clear shift in the club’s coaching philosophy.
The club’s head of football, Kieran Scott, who has a history of working with Edwards at Wolves, praised the new head coach’s credentials and vision. “Rob is someone who I’ve been aware of for a long time and I’ve followed his development as a coach closely,” Scott said. “He made history at Forest Green Rovers and to win promotion to the Premier League with Luton Town was a fantastic achievement. We had an exciting pool of candidates for this role, but we felt that Rob was the stand-out and were very impressed upon meeting him and listening to him talk about his vision for the club. We’re excited that Rob has agreed to join us and are looking forward to the future.”
In his first interview as Middlesbrough head coach, Edwards outlined the attributes he hopes to instill in the squad for the upcoming 2025-2026 season. He acknowledged the talent already present at the club and expressed his desire to add “steel” to complement the existing ability. “There’s obvious talent here, and that’s something that’s really exciting,” Edwards said. “It’s still big on creating chances and it can control games. So I think with what we want to try to bring, there’s some quick wins, some things we can get going really quickly and continue some of the good stuff that’s going on as well.”
Edwards emphasized the importance of combining attractive football with intensity and fight. “We want to be attractive, we want to be great to watch. We want some steel with that substance. We want some fight, some intensity, and then keep a lot of the really good football and creating chances, those things, going as well. There’s some really exciting players that I’m really looking forward to working with.”
With the summer transfer window now open, Edwards will spend the coming days working closely with Middlesbrough’s recruitment team, led by Kieran Scott, along with Neil Bausor and club owner Steve Gibson. He hinted at available funds to strengthen the squad, aiming to bring in players who fit the club’s style and can help improve the team. “We’re part of the team, which will be led by Kieran (Scott), with Neil (Bausor) and Steve (Gibson) in that,” Edwards explained. “There’ll be opportunities to try to make some changes and improve. You always want to do that in every single window, so I don’t think that will be different to every other football club at all.”
Edwards described the recruitment process as clear and well-structured, praising the people involved as a key reason why the role is a “really good fit.” The club retains goalkeeper coach Alan Fettis and first-team coach Grant Leadbitter, who served under Carrick, though it remains uncertain if Leadbitter will continue in the first-team setup.
As Middlesbrough embarks on this new era under Rob Edwards, the club and its passionate fanbase will be eager to see how the team develops. With a fresh coaching staff, clear ambitions, and a focus on blending talent with toughness, Boro looks poised to challenge for promotion and return to the Premier League, a goal that has eluded them since their relegation in 2017. The coming months will be crucial in shaping the squad and setting the tone for what promises to be an exciting season at the Riverside.
