Middlesbrough announced on Thursday that they had sacked manager Aitor Karanka following a run of 10 Premier League games without a win – a sequence that has seen them drop into the relegation zone.

A 2-0 home defeat to Manchester City in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup proved to be the final straw for the Boro board, and they dismissed the Spaniard after three-and-a-half years in charge at the Riverside Stadium.

One of the club’s biggest problems this season has been their lack of goals – they have scored just 19 in 27 top flight matches – which has left them in 19th position, three points from safety.

Despite their struggle to put the ball in the back of the net, whoever Karanka’s successor is will be buoyed by the fact that they have only conceded on 30 occasions – the fifth best record in the division.

Talk now turns to who will replace the 43-year-old on Teesside, and there are certainly a number of suitable candidates available right now.

Here are five managers that could replace Karanka at the Riverside Stadium…

Nigel Pearson

Having made more than 100 appearances as a player for the club during the 90s, and having pulled off a miraculous Great Escape with Leicester City in the 2014/15 campaign, there is no doubt that Pearson could be near the top of the club’s list of potential replacements for Karanka as they look for results, quickly.

One blot on his record was his disappointing spell with Derby County earlier this season – which saw him sacked by the Rams in October – but the way he galvanised the Foxes previously to stave off relegation means he will be a frontrunner.

Steve McClaren

Having just been sacked by Derby County this week, it remains to be seen whether McClaren is ready to jump straight into another job.

If he is however, then he is likely to be one of the frontrunners for the vacant spot at the Riverside Stadium.

The 55-year-old knows Boro chairman Steve Gibson well having managed the club before – leading them to League Cup success in 2004 – but he might be against returning to another former side again having been dismissed by the Rams during his second spell in charge.

Roy Hodgson

If Steve Gibson is looking for an experienced head to take over for the rest of the season, he would do a lot worse than appoint Hodgson.

Yes, his time with England – especially at the tournaments – was a bit of a disaster, but the 69-year-old did well during spells with West Brom and Fulham, leading the latter to a miracle escape from relegation in the 2007/08 campaign, picking up 12 points from their last five matches.

A similar return might be needed for Boro right now.

Claudio Ranieri

The Italian is a Premier League champion and struggling Middlesbrough would surely jump at the chance of appointing the 65-year-old if they had the opportunity.

However, despite such an incredible achievement last season, Steve Gibson might have his doubts over whether Ranieri could galvanise the Boro players in such a short space of time – he certainly failed to do so with the Leicester players before his sacking last month, and has little experience when it comes to relegation battles.

Alan Pardew

Like Hodgson, if Boro are looking to appoint a manager with Premier League experience, then they should look no further than Pardew.

The 55-year-old has been without a job since he was sacked by Crystal Palace in December, and will surely be keen to start working again.

Needing points – and quickly – chairman Steve Gibson could be put off by Pardew’s record with Palace in 2016 though – they took just 26 points from 36 Premier League matches during the calendar year.

Who do YOU want, Boro fans? Let us know in the comments section below.