Kim Hellberg joined following a successful period managing Hammarby IF in Sweden, where he led the team to consecutive 2nd place finishes in the Allsvenskan in 2024 and 2025. Hellberg signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with Middlesbrough FC on the 24th November 2025, taking over from interim manager Adi Viveash, who had been in charge since the departure of Rob Edwards earlier that month.
Hellberg's first season in charge was not without drama, as the club remained in the top 2 places for the majority of the season, but a late run of poor form saw the club finish in 5th place, missing out on promotion to the Premier League. Due to the absence of Director of Football Keiran Scott (who was recovering from surgery), Hellberg was left without sufficient depth to mount a proper promotion challenge, and left him without a squad capable of winning necessary games in the final stages of the season. Middlesbrough's playoff campaign was not one to forget however, as the club became embroiled in a controversial Semi-final against Southampton, who had been found guilty of cheating by sending an analyst to watch and record Middlesbrough's training sessions in the lead up to the game. Despite the controversy, Middlesbrough were not deterred and drew the first leg 0-0 at the Riverside Stadium, but would ultimately lose the second leg 2-1 at St Mary's Stadium. Although the club had lost the semi-final, the club still continued preparations for the Final, as there was a possibility that Southampton could be disqualified from the playoffs due to their cheating. Legal action brought forward by Steve Gibson to the EFL was successful, and Southampton were disqualified from the playoffs, meaning that Middlesbrough would face Hull City in the Final at Wembley Stadium. Middlesbrough would go on to lose the Final 1-0 to Hull City, meaning that the club would remain in the Championship for another season. It was a season to remember for all Middlesbrough fans, and the club would look to build on the foundations laid by Hellberg in the following season.
Stats are based off of all consecutive seasons the manger spent at Middlesbrough.
| G | W | D | L | Win% | PPM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 37 | 17 | 9 | 11 | 46% | 1.62 |