The majority of Middlesbrough fans have been left disappointed by the departure of head coach Aitor Karanka.

There were rumblings that the Spaniard could end his three-and-a-half-year spell at the Riverside following a run of poor form.

Boro dropped into the Premier League relegation zone after three defeats in a row, and they currently reside second from bottom, three points adrift of safety.

Since the turn of the year, the team have not won a single league game, losing four and drawing four.

Karanka was hired in 2013, which marked his first job in management following a spell as Jose Mourinho's assistant at Real Madrid.

During his time at Boro, he guided them to the Premier League by finishing second in the Championship last season.

Individually, he also took home three Championship Manager of the Month awards.

Despite the positivity on the pitch, there have been numerous rumblings of conflict behind the scenes.

An announcement on the club's official website read:

"Middlesbrough Football Club can today confirm the departure of Head Coach Aitor Karanka. Following discussions, both parties have agreed that it is in the best interests of the club to make this change. The club would like to thank Aitor for all his hard work over the past three-and-a-half years and for the success we've had during that time. We wish him all the best for the future."

The managerial change has been met by disappointment from Boro fans.

Plenty responded to the news on Twitter by thanking the Spaniard for his work over the past few years.

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