Sunday 21 May 2017 20:11, UK
Middlesbrough's return to the top flight ended in relegation.
Read our review of the club's 2016/17 Premier League season with expert analysis.
Finishing position: 19th
Total points: 28
FA Cup: Quarter-finals
EFL Cup: Second round
Top scorer: Alvaro Negredo (9)
Season review
Middlesbrough supporters had waited seven years to get back to the Premier League but unfortunately their season ended in disappointment as they were relegated back to the Championship at the first time of asking - down with two games still to play.
Things had looked rather better than that at Christmas when there were six teams below Boro and they sat four points above the drop zone. However, their impressive defensive record was masking a lack of goals and Aitor Karanka paid the price in 2017.
A 16-game winless run followed, during which Karanka departed in March, and while caretaker Steve Agnew added a few more goals he could not find the points required. Owner Steve Gibson will have to find another way to get the club back to the big time once more.
EXPERT ANALYSIS - PAUL MERSON
Managerial review
I felt sorry for Steve Agnew, he came in at a difficult time. Aitor Karanka set his teams up to be hard to beat and he probably did defensively. But neither one was very good if I'm being honest. The thing with Middlesbrough is they look like a team who have been invited to the best party in the world and they are sat at the bar drinking water. It has just fizzled out. If you are going to go, leave with all guns blazing but it never really happened for them.
The thing with Middlesbrough is they look like a team who have been invited to the best party in the world and they are sat at the bar drinking water.
Player of the season: Ben Gibson
I'd say Ben Gibson based on the strength of his early season form. At the start, he was phenomenal, very solid and he got into the England squad. The last couple of games weren't great but if we look at it over 38 games, he has been their standout player.
I think there will be offers for him but it will be up to Gibson really. He's a Middlesbrough lad, his uncle owns the club and he loves Boro. Do you stay another year and help them back up or do you go? If he does go, he has to go somewhere where he is going to play. We've seen it too many times with players where they move for a lot of money and they never play a game. I will be interested to see what he does but I'm sure there will be a few takers.
2017/18 prospects
If you look at their team, they have a lot of good Championship players and I don't think there will be a lot of teams who will take a lot of their players. There aren't a lot who the Premier League will look at and go 'yeah we'll have him and him'. I don't think there will be too many takers so if they can keep their team together, I think they will come straight back up.
