Aitor Karanka made his Premier League bow in 2016/17 after guiding Middlesbrough back to the top flight to end a seven-year absence. 

Apart from one sole year at Colorado Rapids in the MLS, the Spaniard spent his entire playing career between Athletic Bilbao and Real Madrid. Seven major honours were won with Los Blancos, which is where his coaching career got off the ground. 

The three-time UEFA Champions League winner was appointed assistant manager to Jose Mourinho in 2010, with Real achieving La Liga, Copa del Rey and Supercopa de Espana success before Carlo Ancelotti arrived three years later and brought in his own backroom team.

Karanka was given his first managerial role later that year, replacing Tony Mowbray at Middlesbrough, only a few months into the 2013/14 Championship season.

By 2014/15, his first full term at the helm, Boro were challenging for a place in the Premier League but lost 2-0 to Norwich City in the Championship Play-off Final. 

The 2015/16 season was a different story for Middlesbrough as they secured a return to the top flight after the Spaniard led the club to automatic promotion from the Championship.

Middlesbrough and Karanka parted ways in March 2017, with the club 19th in the Premier League table.