Middlesbrough are on the verge of securing an agreement that would see Hammarby manager Kim Hellberg become the new man in charge at the Riverside Stadium.
Fresh reports from Sweden indicate that Hellberg has verbally committed to taking over at Boro, with the Teessiders reportedly winning the race ahead of Championship rivals Swansea City, who were also keen on appointing him. If the move is finalized, Hellberg will step in as the permanent successor to Rob Edwards, who departed last week to take the helm at struggling Premier League side Wolves, ending his brief but successful stint at the club. Edwards left Boro sitting second in the Championship table after only a few months in charge.
New details emerging from Swedish outlet Expressen suggest that Middlesbrough hope to unveil Hellberg as their new manager as early as next week, provided negotiations continue to progress smoothly.
One key element of the discussions reportedly involves Hellberg’s request to bring his long-time assistant, David Selini, with him from Hammarby. The two clubs are said to be holding separate talks to arrange Selini’s move so the coaching duo can remain together on Teesside.
At the moment, Adi Viveash is overseeing Middlesbrough’s first team on an interim basis while the club finalizes the departure of Edwards and confirms his replacement. Should Viveash and fellow coach Harry Watling remain on the staff, the arrival of Selini may create a reshuffle within the coaching hierarchy.
Viveash guided Boro to a strong result in the final match before the international break, a 3–1 victory over Birmingham City, courtesy of goals from Dael Fry and Hayden Hackney.
After the match, the caretaker boss spoke openly about his future but kept the focus on the team’s performance:
“Right now, the only thing I’m thinking about is finishing this interview and having a glass of red wine,” he said. “Today is about the players and the supporters. Tomorrow is another day, and whatever happens next is up to the club’s decision-makers. I’m grateful for the opportunity and hope I handled it well. The most important thing is we’ve given the fans a positive end to what has been a tough week.”
He continued by praising the club and its environment:
“This is an incredible club. I felt that even before I arrived. I’ve stood in the opposite dugout here and experienced the noise and atmosphere—especially during that play-off semi-final night. Growing up, Middlesbrough always had excellent players. The ownership is outstanding, and I feel privileged to work at a club under such leadership.”
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