During 2009–10, Middlesbrough F.C. are competing in the Football League Championship following their relegation from the Premier League at the end of the 2008–09 season. They also competed in the League Cup and the FA Cup.
Despite relegation and pressure from fans, chairman Steve Gibson backed Gareth Southgate to lead Middlesbrough back to the Premier League as manager. However, on 20 October, both Southgate and football consultant, Alan Smith, were relieved of their duties with immediate effect. With regular skipper Emanuel Pogatetz injured, Robert Huth was named captain at the start of the season. After Huth's departure, that honour fell to Gary O'Neil.
Team kit and sponsors Middlesbrough entered into a new shirt supply agreement with Adidas for this season. The new home shirt and goalkeepers' kit was announced on 18 June 2009. The club's sponsorship agreement with satellite navigation firm Garmin continued into the new season. The new all-cyan away kit was not revealed until 13 August, the week after the season had kicked off.
Transfers Summer transfer window Out of contract defender-cum-midfielder Matthew Bates ended much transfer speculation, which linked him with moves to Premier League clubs, by re-signing with Middlesbrough in a new three-year deal. Middlesbrough's first signing of the summer saw in-demand winger Mark Yeates arrive from Colchester United for an undisclosed fee, reported to be worth an initial £500,000, plus £250,000 dependent on appearances.
When Ross Turnbull left for Chelsea after seeing out his contract, manager Gareth Southgate admitted he had yet to decide whether to promote Academy graduate Jason Steele or whether to sign an experienced goalkeeper. On 6 July, the signing of experienced Welsh international keeper Danny Coyne was announced. The 35-year-old came on a free transfer from Tranmere Rovers, with the management stating that Coyne would compete with Brad Jones for the number 1 spot.
After eight seasons at the club and over two-hundred Middlesbrough appearances, Academy graduate Stewart Downing joined Aston Villa for an initial £10 million, with a further £2 million dependent on appearances, despite the player being injured and several months away from full fitness. Downing had been expected to leave this summer, after handing in a transfer request during the January transfer window, but his injury had cast doubt on a move.
Mido reportedly sealed a season-long loan move to Egyptian side El Zamalek, for a fee of £450,000, with a further £1 million possible should they wish to make the move permanent at the end of the season. The move was confirmed and completed on 3 August.
With Mido's loan move sealed, Middlesbrough were able to complete the signing of striker Leroy Lita, who signed a three-year deal. Lita had been without a club since being released by Reading at the end of last season.
On 17 August, Nathan Porritt went on loan to Darlington for 28 days; he made his professional debut against Crewe Alexandra the following day.
Nearing the end of the transfer window, the number of departures started to increase, with captain Robert Huth and Tuncay both moving to Stoke City. Huth's move was confirmed on 27 August, for a fee of £5 million, possibly rising to a Stoke-record £6 million. Tuncay's move was confirmed the following day, with Stoke paying £5 million for the Turkish player. Gareth Southgate said that, with Emanuel Pogatetz and Chris Riggott still on Boro's books, a replacement for Huth would be promoted from within, but another striker would need to be brought in to replace Tuncay.
Afonso Alves move to Al-Sadd was completed on 4 September, as the transfer window in Qatar remained open longer than in England. Keith Lamb later confirmed Middlesbrough received £7m for the move.
Between transfer windows Being in the Championship, loan signings are permitted between the transfer windows. Middlesbrough's first such signing was defender Sean St Ledger from Preston North End on a three-month loan with a view to a permanent transfer in January.
A second loan signing, Hull City striker Caleb Folan, joined Middlesbrough on a three-month loan from 19 September. Folan suffered an injury in training in October and only made one substitute appearance for the club, returning to Hull early at the beginning of December.
On 23 September, John Johnson was loaned out to Northampton Town for one month.
On 30 October they signed their third player on loan, Marcus Bent from Birmingham City on loan for two months.
On 5 November Strachan brought in Aston Villa midfielder Isaiah Osbourne on a two-month deal.
On 17 November 2009 Gordon Strachan signed his third player, Stoke City's Dave Kitson.
Summary In DatePlayerPrevious clubFeeRef 26 June 2009 Mark Yeates Colchester UnitedUndisclosed 6 July 2009 Danny Coyne Unattached (Tranmere Rovers)Free 3 August 2009 Leroy Lita Unattached (Reading) Free
Loans in DatePlayerClub fromPeriodRef 15 September 2009 Sean St Ledger Preston North End 3 months 19 September 2009 Caleb Folan Hull City Until 7 December 2009 30 October 2009 Marcus Bent Birmingham City 3 months 5 November 2009 Isaiah Osbourne Aston Villa 2 months 17 November 2009 Dave Kitson Stoke City 6 weeks
Trials in DatePlayerClub fromPeriodRef January 2010 Dominique Kivuvu NEC Nijmegen January 2010 Nicky Weaver Dundee United
Out For departures of players out of contract at the end of 2008–09 see 2008–09 Middlesbrough F.C. season. DatePlayerNew ClubFeeRef16 July 2009 Stewart DowningAston Villa£12 million27 August 2009 Robert HuthStoke City£5 million27 August 2009 TuncayStoke City£5 million4 September 2009 Afonso AlvesAl-Sadd£7 million1 February 2010 Adam JohnsonManchester City£7 million30 June 2010 Jérémie AliadièreReleasedOut of contract30 June 2010 Chris RiggottReleasedOut of contract
Huth's initial transfer fee is £5 million, possibly rising to £6 million.
Loans Out DatePlayerClub toPeriodRef3 August 2009 MidoEl ZamalekUntil end of seasonFee: £450,00017 August 2009 Nathan PorrittDarlingtonUntil 14 September 200923 September 2009 John JohnsonNorthampton TownUntil 23 October 2009 (Later extended to 1 January 2009)19 November 2009 Josh WalkerNorthampton TownUntil 1 January 20107 December 2009 Gary MartinNorthampton Town2 weeks (work experience)7 December 2009 James CronesberryGrimsby Town2 weeks (work experience)21 December 2009 Ashley CorkerCheltenham Town1 week (work experience) Didier Digard23 February 2010 Gary MartinÚjpest6 months
Trials out DatePlayerClub atPeriodRef May 2010 Marvin Emnes Fortuna Düsseldorf
Squad The squad numbers for the 2009–10 season were announced on 27 July 2009. Brad Jones took over the number 1 shirt, while Matthew Bates moved to 4, pushing Gary O'Neil to 16. Most of the players with high squad numbers moved down the list to fill in the empty spaces. Mido was given the number 9 shirt before going out on loan, while Afonso Alves retained number 12 until he left. Due to the numerous players who transferred in and out or who came on loan, many squad numbers were used by more than 1 player throughout the season.
Appearances and goals Appearance and goalscoring records for all the players who are in the Middlesbrough F.C. first team squad during the 2009–10 season.
Pre-season Summary Top scorers Rhys Williams 4 Adam Johnson 2 An early disruption to the new season's planning was the failure of Afonso Alves and Mido to return for the start of pre-season training. Alves returned a few days later, but it took Mido two extra weeks. He was heavily fined by the club and when he finally returned he had to catch up on missed fitness training and did not tour with the rest of the team when they visited Scotland.
Middlesbrough's pre-season campaign consisted entirely of away fixtures. Their pre-season got off to a good start with a 3–0 win over Macclesfield Town, fielding different line-ups in both halves, with only goalkeeper Danny Coyne remaining on the field throughout. This was followed by a strong 5–0 win over Dumbarton, although Didier Digard sustained a hip flexor injury. Boro were without recognised strikers for their friendly against Carlisle United, but continued their winning run with a 2–0 win.
A friendly against Darlington was planned for 29 July, but was cancelled at Darlington's request due to their long injury list. An alternative friendly against Oldham Athletic was swiftly arranged for the same night. In that game, Middlesbrough came from a goal down to lead, 2–1, but let their lead slip and the game finished in a 2–2 draw.
Their final game saw Middlesbrough again come from behind. Rhys Williams scored his fourth goal of pre-season to level the tie against Millwall. The game, which finished 1–1, was a benefit match for former Lions and Republic of Ireland striker Richard Sadlier.
Results
Note: Results are given with Middlesbrough score listed first. Man of the Match is according to mfc.co.uk.
GameDateVenueOpponentResultF–AAttendanceBoro GoalscorersMan/Men of the Match118 July 2009A Macclesfield Town3–0 728 Arca 71' (pen.), Emnes 86', Franks 88' Yeates (1st half), Franks (2nd half)222 July 2009A Dumbarton5–0 O'Neil 6', Dunlop 42' (o.g.), Aliadière 45', A. Johnson 70', Williams 73'Not named325 July 2009A Carlisle United2–0 2,420A. Johnson 4', Williams 80'O'Neil429 July 2009AOldham Athletic2–21,139 Williams 58', Huth A. Johnson51 August 2009A Millwall 1–1 3,620 Williams 81' Huth
Championship
Results summary
Results by matchday
Results
Note: Results are given with Middlesbrough score listed first. Man of the Match is according to mfc.co.uk.