Neil Warnock signs Middlesbrough contract extension for 2021/22 season as 72-year-old targets Premier League return
NEIL WARNOCK has agreed to stay at Middlesbrough until he is at least 73.
The veteran, who is the second oldest manager in England behind Crystal Palace’s Roy Hodgson, has penned a new one-year deal at The Riverside.
After Tuesday’s 2-1 away win at Coventry, Warnock held talks with Boro owner Steve Gibson on Wednesday.
After outlining his ambitions for the club and changes he felt that needed to be made, the two men have now shaken hands on a one-year extension.
Warnock replaced Jonathan Woodgate in June and guided the club to Championship safety by winning four of his eight games at the helm last term.
This season he has continued that transformation to turn Boro into Championship play-off contenders.
He is now chasing a record ninth promotion as manager with his side five points off the top six.
And his trusted lieutenants Kevin Blackwell and Ronnie Jepson will also remain at the club alongside him in the dug-out.
A club statement said the return of fans to the Riverside is ‘another big attraction for the veteran’.
He is yet to take charge of a home game in front of the Boro faithful, having missed the 1-1 draw with Bournemouth in September in front of 1,000 spectators as he battled coronavirus.
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OLD GUARD
The oldest gaffers currently managing in England:
Roy Hodgson (Crystal Palace)
Age: 73 DOB: 9/7/1947
Neil Warnock (Boro)
Age: 72 DOB: 1/12/1948
Sam Allardyce (West Brom)
Age: 66 DOB: 19/10/1954
Marcelo Bielsa (Leeds)
Age: 65 DOB: 21/7/ 1955
Chris Hughton (Forest)
Age: 62 DOB: 11/12/1958
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This season has also seen Warnock add more impressive notches to his belt.
He celebrated becoming just the seventh man to take charge of 1,5000 matches in Britain in October.
Warnock then made EFL history by winning a record 11th Championship Manager of the Month award in November.
He was already one ahead of Chris Hughton in the all-time standings before scooping another following a six-match unbeaten run.
Warnock will be hoping to cap his new contract with a victory when they travel to fellow promotion chasers Swansea on Saturday.
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