“I’ve just got a feeling” – QPR boss Marti Cifuentes tipped for Middlesbrough switch if Michael Carrick is sacked.

This post is part of Football League World’s ‘Terrace Talk’ series, which features personal comments from FLW Fan Pundits on breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings, and more. The Queens Park Rangers were shaken before the completion of the 2024-25 Championship season when manager Marti Cifuentes was placed on gardening leave by the leadership. The decision came after The Sun reported that the Spaniard was considering leaving his role at Loftus Road after a year and a half in command, citing a difficult relationship with 27-year-old CEO Christian Nourry.

Around the same time, claims surfaced that Cifuentes’ representatives had been in contact with QPR’s Championship rivals West Brom about their managerial vacancy, and despite the fact that the 42-year-old was eventually ruled out of the running, the Hoops board decided to remove his managerial duties, essentially waiting for a club to come in and compensate him for his services. Marti Cifuentes might join Middlesbrough if Michael Carrick leaves.

The next step for Cifuentes is unknown; the West Brom avenue looks to have been closed, so he will have to consider alternative choices. There are various job openings, but FLW’s QPR fan analyst Louis Moir believes Cifuentes might join Middlesbrough if Steve Gibson parted ways with Michael Carrick following another failed play-off drive. “I think Cifuentes – obviously nobody knows where he’s going to go, it might not be in the Championship, it might not even be in England, a club abroad might want him, which wouldn’t be a shock,” Louis commented on FLW.

“But I simply have a sense that if Middlesbrough gets rid of Michael Carrick, they’ll come in for Marti. “I could see him heading to Middlesbrough, but there are other Championship clubs searching for a manager, and anyone could come in for him, I suppose. “But I believe there would be more interest in him in the Championship and in staying in England than in moving abroad, so staying in England is the more likely outcome for him.” “For me, I believe Middlesbrough could work. I think they’d be interested in him and if they were to get rid of Carrick, you’d imagine Marti’s name would be quite high up their list.

“I think he’ll be staying in England personally.”

Middlesbrough may have sights set higher than Marti Cifuentes if Michael Carrick leaves

Middlesbrough have yet to make a decision on Carrick’s future, although FLW exclusively revealed shortly after the 2024-25 season ended that his employment at the Riverside Stadium was under threat. Boro have failed to reach the Championship play-offs in the last two seasons, despite a good squad and significant investment each time, and Carrick may have brought them as far as he could. If Steve Gibson decides a change is required, Boro may aspire higher than a manager who, despite his potential, ended 15th with QPR this season. It may be where the Hoops anticipated to finish given a paucity of investment in their first-team players, but Cifuentes – despite having the potential to more with a bigger budget – could lose out to a bigger and more proven name, such as Steve Cooper.

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