Middlesbrough manager Michael Carrick has been emulating a former Boro boss when it comes to his recruitment strategy.
Bryan Robson oversaw one of the most successful periods in Middlesbrough’s history.
Robson accepted Boro’s offer to become player-manager at the end of the 1993/94 season, going on to secure Middlesbrough promotion to the Premier League in 1994/95.
During his time in charge at the Riverside Stadium, the Teessiders reached three domestic cup finals.
Middlesbrough lost the FA Cup and League Cup finals in 1996/97 and the League Cup final in 1997/98.
While no trophy was won, it was still a great period for the club. Robson also sparked a change in recruitment policy at Middlesbrough, with a number of legends like Juninho and Fabrizio Ravanelli signed on Robson’s watch.
Michael Carrick and Jonathan Woodgate emulating Bryan Robson
Now, speaking to the Tippy Tappy Podcast, Robson has detailed how he convinced all those big foreign names to join Boro, as per Teesside Live.
He said: “People up in Middlesbrough were saying, ‘you’re never going to bring in top foreign players up at Boro. Nobody will come’.
“I thought the important part, when they’re foreign players and they weren’t familiar with the area, or the club really with Middlesbrough, was sitting with the player, as the manager, and tell them why I wanted them, why I wanted them to play in the way I wanted them to play.
“When I thought I was going to try and bring some really big players into Boro, I wanted to make sure I sat in front of the player to say them, ‘this is why I want you to come to Middlesbrough’. We had ambition, a new stadium, a new training ground.”
Teesside Live also details how Michael Carrick and Jonathan Woodgate have employed a similar tactic when signing players for Middlesbrough in the modern era.
They add that the duo will almost always speak with potential targets in order to sell them on a move.
This tactic has already worked on some key names like Rav van den Berg, Aidan Morris, and Harley Hunt.
The former two of the trio have mentioned conversations with Carrick, while Hunt spoke of talks with Woodgate as a key reason for his decision to sign.
Carrick should repeat Robson trick to strengthen key Middlesbrough position
Boro News understands that Middlesbrough are looking at the foreign market to strengthen the left-wing position this summer.
After spending the last seven years in the Championship, the Teessiders may find it tough to convince some foreign players to join.
However, Carrick has already persuaded top talents like Morris and Van den Berg to join from abroad and can hopefully do the same for a new left winger.
No specific names are currently being linked, but Middlesbrough are hopefully working hard behind the scenes to get a name through the door before deadline day next month.