Headline: Middlesbrough’s Kim Hellberg Praises Tony Mowbray Ahead of Upcoming Clash
Middlesbrough head coach Kim Hellberg has expressed his respect for former Boro manager Tony Mowbray as they prepare for their first encounter on the sidelines. Hellberg’s team is set to face Blackburn at Ewood Park on Saturday at 15:00 BST. This match marks Mowbray’s first home game since returning to the club he previously led for three years, more than nine years after his initial tenure.
Mowbray, who hails from Saltburn and played nearly 350 league matches for Boro during an 11-year spell, managed the team he supported as a child from 2010 to 2013. In February 2024, he was diagnosed with bowel cancer and resigned from his position at Birmingham City to undergo treatment. Since then, Mowbray’s only role in football has been a brief term with West Brom in early 2025, after which he focused on supporting Middlesbrough as they narrowly missed out on promotion last season.
Speaking to BBC Radio Tees, Hellberg shared, “I know he’s seen a lot of games and probably enjoyed a lot of things we have done on the pitch and how we’ve played. In many ways I think we’re similar in the way we look at the game. I am looking forward to meeting him.”
Mowbray’s Blackburn side faced disappointment with a late equalizer in their season opener against Wolves, but Hellberg noted, “I think he’s shown many times at different clubs that he’s a brilliant coach. The impressive thing about (the Wolves game) wasn’t the result, though I think they deserved three points, it was how they played, how brave they were – that comes from the manager and how he gets that into the players to express themselves. He’s done a brilliant job.”
Earlier this year, Boro had a goalless draw at Ewood Park during a seven-match winless stretch that hindered their automatic promotion ambitions. Hellberg reflected, “We had a lot of opportunities but couldn’t get the goal we needed in that game.”
Looking ahead, he remarked, “They have changed a lot since last season. They have a new style of play. It’s going to be a very good, open football game. They will have a very attack-minded approach to the game. Blackburn showed against one of the favorites how good they can be. We’re looking forward to the challenge.”
In team news, midfielder Aidan Morris is set to return to the squad, forward David Strelec remains a 50/50 chance to participate, while defender Ashley Phillips may not be ready until September.
Middlesbrough head coach Kim Hellberg has spoken of his admiration for former Boro boss Tony Mowbray ahead of their first meeting in the dugout.
Hellberg’s side head to Ewood Park on Saturday (15:00 BST) to face Blackburn, who are playing the first home game of Mowbray’s second spell in charge of Rovers, more than nine years after his first began.
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The Saltburn-born 62-year-old played nearly 350 league games for Boro over an 11-year stay and also managed the club he grew up supporting from 2010 until 2013.
In February 2024 Mowbray was diagnosed with bowel cancer and quit as Birmingham City boss as he underwent treatment and his only job in football since was a four-month spell at West Brom early in 2025, with much of his time since devoted to following the fortunes of Boro as their promotion push fell narrowly short last season.
Hellberg told BBC Radio Tees: “I know he’s seen a lot of games and probably enjoyed a lot of things we have done on the pitch and how we’ve played.
“In many ways I think we’re similar in the way we look at the game. I am looking forward to meeting him.”
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Mowbray’s side were denied an eye-catching win at Wolves in their opening game by a last-gasp equaliser and Hellberg added: “I think he’s shown many times at different clubs that he’s a brilliant coach.
“The impressive thing about (the Wolves game) wasn’t the result, though I think they deserved three points, it was how they played, how brave they were – that comes from the manager and how he gets that into the players to express themselves. He’s done a brilliant job.”
Boro dominated a goalless draw at Ewood Park in March in the midst of a seven-match winless streak which derailed their automatic promotion push.
Hellberg added: “We had a lot of opportunities but couldn’t get the the goal we needed in that game.
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“They have changed a lot since last season. They have a new style of play. It’s going to be a very good, open football game.
“They will have a very attack-minded approach to the game. Blackburn showed against one of the favourites how good they can be. We’re looking forward to the challenge.”
Midfielder Aidan Morris returns to the squad, forward David Strelec is 50/50 to be in the squad but defender Ashley Phillips may not be ready to feature until September.
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