Aitor Karanka is set to bring in former Real Madrid team-mate Ivan Perez Munoz as part of a back-room reshuffle.
Perez announced to the Spanish press yesterday that he was to be an “assistant” to the Boro boss next term causing some confusion as to his role and the position and pecking order of existing matchday dug-out staff.
But the Gazette understands he will take up a purely back-room brief.
It is believed he will be Karanka’s tactical analyst, poring over Prozone stats of team performance data and preparing reports on upcoming opposition.
Perez, 38, will support Karanka and his assistant head coach Craig Hignett, goalkeeper coach Leo Percovich and fitness specialist Carlos Cachada.
He will replace Karanka’s former laptop man Javier Egido who left the club over the summer.
Egido had previously worked with the Spanish Football Federation in the youth set-up as their emerging stars swept all before them, winning the European U21 Championships in Denmark in 2011 and Israel in 2013 plus the U19 Championship in Estonia in 2012.
Perez is expected to be confirmed in his new role next week when the squad and staff reassemble at Rockliffe for pre-season.
His career over-lapped with Karanka for a brief spell at Real and he also had stints at Real Betis and Deportivo La Coruna, where he won La Liga title in 1999-2000.
As a striker he represented his country at every youth level and scored the winner in the 1998 UEFA European Under-21 Championship final against Greece.
Perez told the Spanish media he was delighted to be given a chance to work with Karanka.
He said: “I’m going to England to work with Aitor Karanka at Middlesbrough.
“The team is in the second division and our goal is to get promotion, but we know how hard it is to move up in competitions in English football.
“I thank Aitor for giving me this opportunity, which I will work with with the utmost enthusiasm and commitment.”
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