Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson has revealed Aitor Karanka 'sacrificed himself' after failing to drag the club out of their relegation tailspin.
The Spaniard parted company with Boro on Thursday, who sit in 19th place in the Premier League table, three years and four months into his reign following lengthy talks with Gibson.
However, the Teesside businessman has insisted the man who was mentored by Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid left of his own accord.
Gibson told the Times: 'I know people are cynical when you say that a decision was mutual, but he wasn't sacked.