Middlesbrough manager Kim Hellberg has insisted he didn’t join the club just because of the huge jump in salary.
Fotboll Skanalen cover comments from him today, made in an interview with Fotbollsmorgon this week. In it, he wants to fight back against suggestions he joined Middlesbrough for the money.
Hellberg was named as the new Middlesbrough at the end of November following Rob Edwards’ move to Wolves.
He arrived with a glowing reputation from his time in Sweden with Hammarby. Indeed, he had earned himself attention across Europe with their performances and held talks with several clubs in the Championship before ending up at Middlesbrough.
Hammarby had fought hard to keep him too, offering a new deal with increased terms. Sports director Mikael Hjelmberg later insisted the contract offer was “by Swedish standards very good”.
Reports have since made it clear that Hellberg is earning considerably more at Middlesbrough than even the improved terms offered by the Swedish side. The implication, of course, is that he moved to the Championship for the money. That, though, is something he doesn’t agree with.
“Sometimes I think it might be a bit unfair to me to say that I jumped at something,” he said.
“I don’t think many people have said that, but during this period I have had the opportunity to earn ten times as much in salary several times in all sorts of different countries. But it has never been interesting to me.
“I think most people see that I have done everything I can for Hammarby. But there has also been a dream specifically around England.
“I don’t think I would have ended up anywhere else if it hadn’t been for an opportunity in England. Such an opportunity, regardless of what I do next year, may not even come (again).”
