Ex-Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka appointed Maccabi Tel Aviv manager as former Real Madrid star heads to Israel

AITOR KARANKA has been appointed boss of Israeli side Maccabi Tel Aviv.

The former Middlesbrough, Nottingham Forest and Birmingham chief has signed a deal until June next year.

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Former Real Madrid defender Karanka, 49, said: “I am excited and proud to be here and to be part of a club with so such much history and tradition as Maccabi Tel Aviv.

“I will give everything to help develop the team, keep Maccabi Tel Aviv moving forward and make the supporters proud. 

“We have already began our work and will be focused from the first moment to fulfil the club’s ambition.”

Maccabi Tel Aviv are currently second in the Israeli Premier League, six points behind leaders Maccabi Haifa.

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Karanka, who wrote a column for SunSport during the World Cup, takes charge of his first game at home to mid-table Ashdod on Saturday.

The 49-year-old spent eight years managing in England, taking charge of Middlesbrough, Nottingham Forest and Birmingham City.

His most successful spell came at Boro, where he took charge of 169 games.

Karanka bossed 27 Premier League games in the 2016/17 season, but was sacked in March after winning just four games.

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Middlesbrough won just one game after the Spaniard's departure and were relegated back to the Championship in 19th place.