Former Leeds United striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has surprisingly emerged as a contender for the vacant Middlesbrough managerial role.
Rob Edwards has officially departed the club to take charge of Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers, leaving Boro searching for a new head coach. With the team sitting second in the Championship, the job is expected to attract significant interest.
Big names such as Premier League legend Steven Gerrard and former Middlesbrough midfielder Gary O’Neil have already been linked.
According to journalist Alan Nixon on his Patreon page, Hasselbaink is among the candidates being considered, more than three years after his last managerial stint.
Chairman Steve Gibson is reportedly assessing all options and may be open to a short-term appointment.
Hasselbaink would be a bold choice for a promotion-chasing side, given his last job was with League One club Burton Albion.
A Premier League star during his playing career, Hasselbaink is well known in Yorkshire. Leeds brought him to England from Boavista in 1997, and he went on to score 41 goals with 13 assists in 85 appearances.
He left for Atletico Madrid in 1999 before returning to the Premier League for four seasons with Chelsea, followed by spells at Middlesbrough, Charlton, and Cardiff.
As a manager, Hasselbaink has previously led Royal Antwerp, QPR, Northampton Town, and Burton Albion across two separate spells.
Leave a Reply