Middlesbrough appoint Swede Hellberg as head coach

Kim Hellberg has been hired as Middlesbrough’s new head coach.

Rob Edwards, who left for Premier League struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers earlier this month, replaces him as manager of Swedish side Hammarby.

Hellberg’s first job outside of his native Sweden came after discussions with Championship rival Swansea City earlier this month.

Adi Viveash will remain in charge of the home game against Championship leaders Coventry City on Tuesday, with Hellberg taking over officially at the end of the week.

With Edwards leaving for boyhood club Wolves just 14 games into his managerial position at the Riverside, this is Boro’s second managerial appointment in five months.

Hellberg led the Stockholm-based club to successive second-place finishes in Sweden’s Allsvenskan after taking over the club for the previous two seasons.

Hellberg had a year to complete his deal with Hammarby, who spent his entire playing career in the Swedish minor leagues.

Before joining the top-tier club IFK Norkopping in 2020, he began his coaching career with Kuddby IF and later IF Sylvia.

His first job as head coach at IFK Varnamo led to his appointment as Hammarby’s head coach after two impressive seasons at the Allsvenskan.

Although not widely known, Boro’s director of football Kieran Scott was aware of Hellberg’s development at Hammarby and believes the club has hired a head coach with a growing stock.

According to Scott, “Kim is someone I’ve been watching for a while.”

He is well-known as a young head coach who was popular with many fans and doing very well at Hammarby in the circles of European football.