MIDDLESBROUGH under Aitor Karanka have experienced more highs than lows, though it's not all been plain sailing.
Here are some of the high and low points during the Spaniard's tenure at the Riverside.
Promotion to the Premier League
AFTER the previous season's disappointment in the play-off finals, when Boro lost to Norwich, Karanka led the Teessiders into the promised land on a dramatic final day of the 2015-16 season.
A point against ten-men Brighton was enough to send the club up automatically behind champions Burnley.
Beating Manchester United on penalties in the Capital One Cup in 2015
MIDDLESBROUGH goalkeeper Tomas Mejias celebrates after saving the penalty from Manchester United's Wayne Rooney following the Capital One Cup, Fourth Round match at Old Trafford.
Losing to Charlton in the Championship when Aitor went AWOL
WITH an internal row leading to Karanka not travelling with the Boro team to a crunch game at Charlton, Steve Agnew was left in charge. Boro crashed 2-0 to a team fighting relegation to League One.
Boro beat moneybags Manchester City in the FA Cup in 2015
Boro dumped Premier League champions Manchester City out of the FA Cup after turning in a brilliant display at the Etihad Stadium.
Patrick Bamford, then on loan from Chelsea, was the scorer of the goal that put Boro on their way seven minutes after half-time but the Teessiders had match-winners all over the pitch to seal a place in the fifth round in front of 5,500-plus travelling supporters.
Losing to Norwich in the Championship Play-Off final in May 2015
FRUSTRATION was written across the face of every dejected Middlesbrough player as they were forced to endure at first hand Norwich City’s promotion celebrations from the Wembley surface where their own Premier League dream died.
It was simply not Boro’s day as they went down 2-0 at Wembley to the Canaries.
The 30 penalties at Anfield in September 2014 in the Capital One Cup
AITOR KARANKA paid tribute to his Middlesbrough players after losing an extraordinary penalty shoot-out at Anfield when it required an astonishing 30 spot-kicks to settle the third round tie.
Boro winger Albert Adomah, who had scored his initial penalty before the rota had gone full circle, was the unfortunate man to miss the crucial last one and that was only the third not to have been scored in front of the Kop.
Grabbing a last-gasp draw at Manchester City earlier this season
MARTEN DE ROON’S stoppage-time header enabled Middlesbrough to claim a point at Premier League leaders Manchester City.
A fortnight after Aitor Karanka’s side held Arsenal to a draw on their own turf, they were at it again as they frustrated Pep Guardiola’s leaders at the Etihad.
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