Michael Carrick to get instant revenge on Middlesbrough as West Brom update emerges
West Brom have finally parted company with Ryan Mason, and talks over who will replace the 34-year-old have already begun.
Mason was sacked by West Brom on Tuesday morning after his side fell to a last-gasp 2-1 defeat against Leicester City.
The Englishman’s dismissal from The Hawthorns felt a long time coming, as the Baggies currently sit closer to the relegation zone than the play-offs.
West Brom even lost 10 successive away games for the first time in 99 years following their defeat at the King Power Stadium, and that record was enough to see Shilen Patel part ways with the manager.
Now, Andrew Nestor is being tasked by Patel to find Mason’s successor, and Michael Carrick is the favourite as it stands.
West Brom want manager appointed before Middlesbrough clash
According to Express & Star journalist Lewis Cox, Albion want to appoint their new manager for the Championship fixture against Middlesbrough on January 16, with James Morrison placed in temporary charge for the FA Cup clash with Swansea City on Sunday.
Ryan Mason sacked after run of 10 straight away defeats. Felt untenable.
— Lewis Cox (@LewisCox_star) January 6, 2026
James Morrison in charge in FA Cup on Sunday. #wba hope for appointment by next lge game v Boro. More @ExpressandStar
That sets up a potentially mouth-watering scenario should the Baggies appoint Carrick as their new boss, as his first game could be against his former club.
The former Manchester United midfielder was sacked by Middlesbrough in June after failing to finish in the top six, and the 44-year-old has been waiting for the right opportunity.
Dr Dan Plumley told West Brom News that Carrick is the likely contender to be hired by West Brom due to financial reasons, with the Englishman currently out of work.
However, it remains to be seen whether the Baggies offer him the vacant managerial position or look elsewhere.
What would Carrick bring to West Brom
As a player, Carrick was often the most elegant player on the pitch, and that has followed him into the dugout.
The former Boro boss utilises a possession-based, patient, and tactically flexible approach, emphasising control through intricate passing.
Carrick typically uses a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 formation, depending on the opposition, with the Englishman known to adapt in games and use a 4-4-2 shape when defending.
Encouragingly, he’s also a great man manager, and that bodes well for a team currently low on confidence.
On the other hand, Carrick is known for not having a Plan B in-game, and that is one of the reasons he was eventually sacked by Boro.