MIDDLESBROUGH manager Aitor Karanka put the play-offs to one side to send his best wishes to Spanish students at a Middlesbrough school.

In between battling to get his team into the Premier League, the Boro boss wrote to class 11b1 at Acklam Grange School to give them a morale boost before their exam.

In his letter which was written in his native language to test the students, he said: “I’d like to wish you the best of luck for your

next Spanish exams.

“Learning another language can be very difficult sometimes. But the advantages of being able to communicate with people from different parts of the world can be very beneficial, especially in football, but you can also apply it to many other career options.

“I hope that you have all enjoyed learning Spanish and that you all achieve the results that you are hoping for, Yours sincerely Aitor Karanka.”

Bryan Hackett, teacher of modern foreign languages at Acklam Grange, got the ball rolling with the letter. In a effort to inspire his students

before their exams he fired off emails to the likes of the Spanish Embassy, the Spanish Royal family and Teesside’s most famous Spaniard.

“I just said in the email that my class are doing so well at the moment and would you send some words of inspiration for them,” he said.

“I follow football and I knew Karanka was a Spanish national. I told the club there are some die-hard Boro fans in my class and they

would really appreciate some words of encouragement.”

Mr Hackett didn’t hear back from the embassy or the Spanish Royal family, but Mr Karanka's PA said he would be happy to help.