Middlesbrough have secured their top-flight return for the first time since 2008 and head coach Aitor Karanka was beaming with pride after promotion was confirmed.
Boro knew a draw on Saturday against promotion rivals Brighton & Hove Albion would be enough to lift them back into the Premier League, and they achieved that with a 1-1 scoreline.An emotional Karanka reflected on what had been achieved and believes the club's promotion is “more than deserved”.
“When I arrived here, some people thought I was crazy to say I wanted to get this club in the Premier League again,” the head coach said after Saturday's match.
“But now, three and a half years later, Middlesbrough Football Club is going to be in the position where it deserves to be.
“You can’t be more proud of this group of players, this crowd, this chairman [Steve Gibson]. It is more than deserved. I just want to say thank you once again because it’s amazing for me.”