Middlesbrough fans have a lot to thank current owner Steve Gibson for over the years.
Steve Gibson is the owner of Middlesbrough Football Club and has enjoyed great success with his local side since saving them from extinction.
Gibson joined the Boro board of directors at just 26 years old back in 1984 and he helped save the club from liquidation in 1986.
Since taking over Middlesbrough, Gibson has overseen the most successful period in their history.
Boro won their first and only trophy under him in 2004, beating Bolton Wanderers in the 2004 League Cup final.
The North East outfit also reached their first-ever European final under his guidance, losing 4-0 to Sevilla in the UEFA Cup showpiece back in 2006.
A few more cup finals and runs in Europe have also taken place under the 66-year-old and he remains a huge backer of Middlesbrough to this day.
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Middlesbrough expert gives Steve Gibson verdict
The 2024 summer transfer window was a perfect example of Gibson’s continued support.
Boro faced transfer interest in several of their top stars in the most recent window, with all of Emmanuel Latte Lath, Rav van den Berg and Hayden Hackney garnering attention.
However, Gibson deserves credit for keeping Middlesbrough’s key players at the club in order to give Michael Carrick the best chance possible at winning promotion.
Now, as per FLW, Middlesbrough expert and talkSPORT pundit Phil Spencer has labelled Gibson ‘one of the most popular chairmen in the country’.
He said: “There is no doubting that Steve Gibson is probably one of the most popular chairmen in the country. He’s a hometown boy. He’s from Middlesbrough, he gets the area, he gets the club and the community, they are all things that are very important.
“He goes down as a Boro legend, he saved the club from extinction in 1986, and I think the journey he’s taking Middlesbrough on and the years that have followed, have been outstanding. When you consider the European adventures and winning the Carling Cup, and the quality players we’ve brought into the club.
“Juninho, Fabrizio Ravanelli, Gaizka Mendieta and Jimmy Floyd-Hasslebank, they were all down to Steve Gibson and the ambition he’s shown as the owner.”
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Middlesbrough fans should be grateful for Steve Gibson
Despite the success in the early 2000s and late 90s, Middlesbrough have not always had the best of times under Gibson.
Since their relegation from the Premier League in the latest 2000s, the Teessiders have largely been a Championship club, spending just one campaign back in the top flight.
There have certainly been some really rough spells in that time, with the Gordon Strachan era a real low point for the club.
However, while some fans may wish to see an owner brought in who has a ridiculous amount of money, Middlesbrough supporters should be grateful they have a chairman who while not the richest, always has the best interests of the club in mind.