Mark Viduka's 'big future' verdict on Middlesbrough head coach Michael Carrick

Mark Viduka has tipped Michael Carrick to have a big future in football management, having been impressed by his work at Middlesbrough so far.

Replacing Chris Wilder in the Boro hotseat in October 2022, Boro handed Carrick his first full-time role in management after a stellar playing career. As far as coaching was concerned, he'd spent time as assistant coach at Old Trafford to Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer before a brief spell as interim boss of Manchester United.

Left impressed by his mentality and vision during their process of finding their new manager, Boro took the gamble on CXarrick and it's certainly paid off. Having led an immediate uplift in form that saw Boro make the top six last term, he's shown other qualities in a more challenging campaign this time around, to guide Boro through difficulties to finish the season strongly with only one defeat in their final 12.

READ MORE: I'm convinced Michael Carrick is the man to guide Middlesbrough back to the Premier League

That one defeat came against Leeds United and it was no surprise that former Boro and Leeds striker Viduka was watching that night. Boro lost 4-3, though Leeds' third goal was scored from an offside position that wasn't spotted at the time. Despite the result, Viduka was left impressed by Boro.

Speaking to Teesside Live via Best Online Poker, Viduka said: "Definitely, I think Michael Carrick does have a big future in management. I watched their match against Leeds and thought to myself, 'They are a good side.' They're a young team and, even though they lost that game, they looked very solid. That has to be down to the manager. They looked like a solid team and that must be down to Michael Carrick."

Carrick has been linked with a couple of Premier League roles already after his impressive start to life in management at Boro. Boro are hoping he can realise his top flight ambitions on Teesside, however, and are close to securing his commitment in the form of a new contract, with his current deal due to expire at the end of next season. There is a confidence at Boro that Carrick is in it for the long-term and will sign a new contract. From his part when asked, he insisted he was loving his time at the club.