Birmingham vs Middlesborough Odds

Just a week ago, Birmingham City appointed ex-United legend Wayne Rooney as their new manager on a 3.5yr deal, ending the ongoing speculation and flurry of bets on the Birmingham City next manager. The blues are no stranger to media-worth appointments, with ex-NFL superstar Tom Brady, a minority owner in the club, but were eager to end their relationship with ex-manager John Eustace after the board disagreed with him on a number of key points. So just why has their signing of new manager Rooney, dominated so many paper columns in the past week?

Having not played a game since the 6th October, due to the International break, their next fixture is against fellow league side Middlesborough, who sit some 10 positions lower than them in the Championship table, yet the game is being billed as a showdown rather than just another league game.

This is exclusively down to the fact that Middlesborough FC are managed by another Manchester United ‘old-boy’ in the form of Michael Carrick. Nearly a year on from his appointment at Middlesborough, after ex-Boro manager Chris Wilder was sacked, Carrick has endured a more difficult start to the 23/24 season, having led them to 4th place in the 22/23 league table. He’s certainly built up a fair amount of good will during his tenure at the club, but despite a convincing run of form since the end of September, he will be keen to lift the club up the table quickly to appease both the board and Boro fans.

So just why has the pending run-in between two United managers becoming so interesting? Arsenal’s Arteta facing off against ex-boss Guardiola was alluring for sure, but there have been very few, if any, ex-player showdowns as new managers. Perhaps the hype around the upcoming Birmingham vs Middlesborough fixture will be just that, unnecessary hype, but for ex-United fans, Blues and Boro fans, and even those with a vague passion for football in general, this could be a showdown for the making as two incredible footballing players, each strive to make a name for themselves in the managerial world and both attempt to secure another win for their respective club.

Check out our latest odds on Birmingham City vs Middlesborough on our Championship betting page and good luck to both managers as they meet for the first time as managers.