Aitor Karanka's role as Jose Mourinho's assistant key in his transition to management
Thursday 31 October 2019 15:03, UK
Aitor Karanka has revealed Jose Mourinho's tutelage at Real Madrid was decisive in his transition from coaching to management.
After a trophy-laden playing career at the Bernabeu, the Middlesbrough boss returned to the Spanish capital in 2010 to take up the role of Mourinho's assistant.
Having been nurtured by the Portuguese early on, Karanka would go on to play a crucial role in Real's title-winning campaign in 2011/12, to date their last La Liga triumph.
And, in an exclusive interview with Guillem Balague, Karanka revealed Mourinho's honest, and at times volatile, approach presented opportunities that convinced him to take the step into the dug-out.
"With Jose you learn every single second. From the first minute he was always teaching me," the Boro boss told Sky Sports.
"Since I arrived with him he was really supportive with me and he told me that I was going to be one of them.
"One of his best traits is that he is honest and, for me, that is the main thing because as a coach you have to be honest.
"Sometimes in my career, managers would tell you something to keep the peace but with time you would realise their explanation wasn't the right one.
"Now some players leave my office thinking that I'm not a nice person but a few weeks later they know I told them the truth. It's difficult but you have to be honest.
"When I arrived I didn't have experience of working with kids in Spain but I did in my first season with Real Madrid.
"In the second season I started to hold more training sessions and in three years I did a load of press conferences too.
Live La Liga Football
"Jose was sent off for a few games which meant I even had to manage the team, so I learnt a lot of things. After those three years, I felt that I was ready to start my career alone."
Karanka won seven major honours in fives season at Real as a player, including three Champions Leagues triumphs.
The Spaniard has been able to bring some success to Middlesbrough during his three years on Teesside, ending the club's seven-year exodus from the Premier League.
And Karanka claims his constant strive for success was instilled at Madrid, adding: "Real Madrid teaches you the most important, that is to win.
"When you arrive at Real Madrid, every single training session is designed to win and you have to win every single game.
"There are no excuses, it's all about winning. With that mentality it's difficult to survive because when you are not at the club you are going to lose a few games.
"However, when you lose and you are a winner with that winning mentality, it's easier to stomach."
Guillem Balague's chat with Aitor Karanka about his journey from northern Spain to the north of England - and the similarities to one of Teesside's most-famous sons, Captain Cook - is available On Demand.
