Middlesbrough head coach Kim Hellberg is being shortlisted as a candidate for the vacant managerial job at Crystal Palace. The Premier League club, sitting bottom of the table after 10 games, are preparing to sack current boss Pierre Sage, with Hellberg and Swansea City's Vitor Matos among the names in the frame.

Hellberg, who replaced Rob Edwards in November 2025, led Boro to the Championship play-off final last season and has them firmly in the promotion hunt again this term. Middlesbrough currently sit second in the standings with 29 points from 15 games, just one point behind leaders Birmingham City. The top six are separated by only three points, making the manager's future a pressing concern for supporters.

Managerial speculation mounts

Crystal Palace's search for a new manager is underway, with Thomas Frank considered the leading contender. However, Hellberg's work at the Riverside Stadium has also brought him into consideration. The 38-year-old Swede is under a long-term contract, as is his counterpart Vitor Matos, who arrived at Swansea just days before Hellberg's move to Middlesbrough. Matos has recorded a points-per-game rate of 1.55 across 47 matches in charge.

When asked about his future recently, Hellberg said: "Do you think Kim Hellberg will be a Premier League manager ahead of 2027/28, at Middlesbrough or elsewhere? Let us know in the comments."

Recent form and key absences

The speculation comes at a time when Middlesbrough's form has stuttered slightly. They failed to score in a midweek defeat at Wrexham and were held to a 0-0 draw by Watford last Saturday. A significant factor in those results was the absence of top scorer Will Lankshear, who has netted 13 times in 13 appearances this season. Despite his absence, the team created enough chances to win multiple games during the stalemate at Vicarage Road.

Their recent sequence reads two wins, two draws and one defeat from the last five, a run that includes a 5-1 thrashing of Bolton and a 3-0 home victory over Charlton. They have scored 30 goals and conceded 19 so far this campaign. The immediate focus returns to the pitch after the international break, with a home game against Bristol City on 21 November. Steve Gibson and the Boro hierarchy will be keen for clarity as they aim to maintain their automatic promotion push at the Riverside.

More detail at The Athletic