Middlesbrough FC sack head coach Jonathan Woodgate

Middlesbrough FC Head Coach Jonathan Woodgate has left the club.

In a statement released on social media, the Championship club said Woodgate has been "relieved of his duties with immediate effect".

The announcement follows a disappointing return to the professional football season, with a 3-0 loss against Swansea.

Neil Warnock will take over the role immediately.

Neil Warnock replaces Jonathan Woodgate as Middlesbrough Head Coach Credit: Nick Potts/PA Archive/PA Images

So who is Neil Warnock?

  • The 71-year-old is a veteran of the EFL

  • Warnock has managed at 13 other clubs throughout his career - Middlesbrough will be his 14th club.

  • As a player, he was a winger - with spells at both Hartlepool United and York City

  • He has guided three teams to promotion to the Premier League in the past - Sheffield United, Queens Park Rangers and Cardiff City

  • His last role in management was at Cardiff City - which included managing the club at the time of the death of Emiliano Sala - and he left the Bluebirds in November last year.

Jonathan Woodgate was awarded the role in June 2019 after signing a three-year contract.

He began his footballing career in his hometown of Middlesbrough and came up through the ranks at Middlesbrough Football Club Youth Club.

Ultimately though his time in charge at the Riverside wasn't successful enough, forcing owner Steve Gibson to act.

Middlesbrough FC say Neil Warnock will assume responsibility immediately.

Warnock will look to get his new team back to winning ways as quickly as possible, starting with their next match away to Stoke on Saturday.

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