Middlesbrough new manager: Mousinho now level with Rooney in running
John Mousinho did a fantastic job of steering Portsmouth to safety this season.
The young manager led Pompey to a 16th-place finish in the Championship despite having one of the lowest budgets in the division.
It was a great way to follow up on the achievement of winning the League One title in his previous season.
However, these impressive feats have been noticed by other Championship clubs, leading to speculation that Mousinho could leave Fratton Park for a bigger club with loftier ambitions.
Indeed, these rumours have resurfaced now that Middlesbrough are in the hunt for a new manager.
Mousinho and Rooney in running to replace Carrick at Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough dismissed their boss Michael Carrick earlier this week, and Mousinho has once again appeared on the list of bookies’ favourites to take the vacant job.
However, unlike with other Championship vacancies that have popped up this summer, he’s somewhat of an outsider to take over at Teesside.
Currently, you can get odds of 33/1 for Mousinho to become the new Boro boss [Sky Bet, 6 June], which is the exact same as Wayne Rooney.
The strongest favourites for the job are former Leicester City manager Steve Cooper and former Luton Town boss Rob Edwards.
Gary O’Neil, the former Pompey and Middlesbrough midfielder, was a strong favourite for the Middlesbrough hotseat. However, his odds have now tailed off to 12/1.
Portsmouth must keep hold of Mousinho at all costs
It must feel like one of those fairground haunted houses for Pompey fans this summer.
Just as it seems everything has calmed down, another piece of news pops up to scare them.
This time it’s Middlesbrough linked with stealing their manager. Before, it was Bristol City, Watford and West Brom.
Thankfully, it’s not as much of a fright this time around. If Mousinho is as likely as Wayne Rooney to get the Boro job, Portsmouth fans can breathe easy.
Rooney was a disaster at Plymouth Argyle this season, after all. He’d do well to ever be offered another job in the second tier.
| John Mousinho’s record at Portsmouth so far | |
| 2022-23 | 8th in League One |
| 2023-24 | 1st in League One |
| 2024-25 | 16th in Championship |
It’s worth mentioning that no club has submitted official interest in Mousinho’s services yet. He’s said that he’s happy at Fratton Park and pundits have suggested Portsmouth is the best club for Mousinho.
Even so, Michael Eisner and the board must do everything they can to keep their bright young manager at Fratton Park.