Time to check out the first words from Kim Hellberg after being appointed as new Middlesbrough head coach, as replacement for Rob Edwards.
The 37 year old joining from Hammarby, who he led to two successive second-placed finishes in the Swedish top flight Allsvenskan, on a deal until the summer of 2029, and links up with David Selini as his assistant.
Middlesbrough currently sit 2nd in the Championship with 30 points from 16 games played, 7 points behind leaders Coventry and 3 above 3rd place Stoke.
We are delighted to confirm the appointment of Kim Hellberg as our new head coach🤝
Welcome to Boro, Kim 🇸🇪 pic.twitter.com/tyjgIgVt1q
— Middlesbrough FC (@Boro) November 24, 2025
CLUB STATEMENT:
Middlesbrough Football Club are delighted to announce the appointment of Kim Hellberg as head coach.
The 37-year-old Swede is joined by his long-standing assistant David Selini, who links up with Adi Viveash on the coaching staff.
The pair join from Allsvenskan runners-up Hammarby, who Hellberg guided to successive second place finishes in the Swedish top-flight.
Despite his young years, Hellberg arrives with a wealth of experience, having clocked up four promotions already in his home country, and the club’s head of football Kieran Scott is delighted to bring him to Teesside.
He said: “Kim is someone I’ve been monitoring for a while.
“He’s well known in the circles of European football as an up-and-coming head coach that was catching a lot of people’s eye and was doing really well at Hammarby.
“We met a few candidates, but Kim was high on my list of people I wanted to speak to.
“Myself, Neil (Bausor) and Steve (Gibson) met him and were very impressed with what he had to say and how he carried himself.
“We felt it was an appointment that could take us forward, and we’re very pleased to bring him in.”
Watch Kim’s first interview below…
Reflecting on joining Boro, Hellberg said: “I’m delighted to have been appointed as Boro’s head coach and I’m very proud to be here.
“A lot of things make Boro the perfect choice for me.
“The way they play and want to play, together with the crowd, suits me and how I want to work.
“I want us to play quick and aggressive football, and to try to win the ball as quickly as possible if we don’t have it. I want us to be quick on goal and create a lot of chances.
“I’ve been very impressed with the players and how they’ve worked so far this season, and I’m looking forward to getting to work with them.”
In his interiew with the club’s media, he felt the club is a perfect fit due to the people, playing style, supporters, and ambition.
There was left very impressed following extensive, positive talks with chief exec Neil Bausor, sporting director Kieran Scott, and chairman Steve Gibson.
On his first impressions, he sees a hard-working squad, surrounding by a happy atmosphere, with everyone hungry for success.
Hellberg was also excited by their current position, with a strong foundation to build on and make small improvements, hoping he can get Middlesbrough promoted to the Premier League.
His syle of play? He wants quick, aggressive, high-pressing football focused on winning the ball high and creating lots of chances.
Kim met the players for the first time on Monday, but will not formally take the reins until later this week, with Adi Viveash remaining at the helm for the midweek game against Coventry City.
On Saturday, Morgan Whittaker’s second-half strike grabbed a point for Boro away at Oxford United as his side stay second in the Championship.
Middlesbrough interim boss Adi Viveash told BBC Tees:
“The reality is that certainly in attacking areas, we didn’t have enough of the quality moments, we didn’t have the final action, final pass, cross, finish.
“Some key moments went against us and in the Championship you need certain things to go your way, especially away from home.
“It was a great goal [by Whittaker] – unfortunately we had two or three more (opportunities) where we were in the same position and just missed the cross, one got pulled behind TC [Tommy Conway].
“Nineteen shots, three on target, that number needs to be higher if you’re going to win a Championship game.”
Viveash, per Sky Sports:
“Their goal was a bit of a sucker punch, which we’ve obviously made the players aware of – it’s a good goal from their point of view, a very clean finish from the edge of the box.
“We had 19 shots and only three on target which is not the ratio you need if you’re going to win games at this level.
“But I was pleased with our equalising goal, we had good numbers in the box showing plenty of desire to get in there and I was pleased with that.
“For Morgan Whittaker, that’s three goals now in five games. As wide forwards, you’re going to be judged on your assists and goals and it was a great move and good finish.”
Here’s how fans reacted after reading the first words from Kim Hellberg on being appointed as new Middlesbrough head coach…
@andersstensio: Grats to grabbing an excellent coach. Fantastic person. The things him and David has done in our club is remarkable.
@Sm1thyy_: swear he was swansea gaffer last week?
@Smithy_MFC84: Welcome to the #Boro, Kim! You’re joining a club on the up, with a fanbase more united than it’s been in awfully long time. Exciting times! Much being made of the fact he’s only our second non-British Head Coach, and if he achieves what the first one did then he’ll be rightly lauded. For me, just give us a team we can be excited by, one that gives us a fighting chance. Manage that and you’ll do just fine. #Boro
@slatchh152: Was he out of work? 😉
@davidkenyon2010: Gimme Gimme Gimme a gaffer from Sweden! 🇸🇪
@Hayden_Obii: Let’s see how freaky this Boro side can get then
@DannyGuitar91: Cannot wait to watch a coach have us playing proper football again. 🇸🇪
@JYaj:
✅ Will link up with Viveash
✅ Young, upcoming coach
✅ Highly regarded
✅ Wants aggression and speed in and out of possession
Let’s see if the players can execute what he wants.
#Boro #UTB
@C0n_TwT: Yeah fuck it I’m SOLD
@spelanalysen: I support Mjällby AIF (who won Allsvenskan with Hammarby runners-up) so I won’t say what I’ll say because Kim has been coaching my team. Kim is class. A clever football man who will most likely win over the players in no-time. I think given some time he’ll do very well at Boro.
@DarrenHornsby_: How Kim has been announced, can we stop singing about Rob Edwards? #Boro
@Sh_an_non13: really hope it goes well for him, all a new experience for him too can’t wait to see what he can do UTFB till i die x
@Jack__boro: Welcome to the mighty boro fine sir take us to the promised land
Middlesbrough had reportedly ‘hijacked’ Swansea’s move for Kim Hellberg last week. Swansea have also just confirmed the appointment of Vitor Matos.
Vitor Matos gives his first sit down interview on becoming new Swansea City head coach
