Middlesbrough have
confirmed that Abel Xavier has left the club after they failed to
agree a new contract with the Portuguese
international.
The 34-year-old was in his second spell at The Riverside having
served a year-long drugs ban after originally joining in August
2005.
Xavier revealed that he leaves Teesside with a huge fondness for
the club.
"I would like to say thank you to Middlesbrough Football Club and
to the chairman Steve Gibson, who is a great person, enthusiastic
and someone who wants to take the club forward," he told the club's
website.
"Thank you also to Keith Lamb [chief executive] and to the manager
Gareth Southgate for the support they gave me in my time at
Middlesbrough.
"Gareth has my respect as a person and as a coach. We have not
reached agreement to extend my contact but I accept that decision.
We move in different directions but with mutual respect.
"I would like to say thanks also to the players because they are
the most important thing in football and when you realise we spend
a lot of time together, we are a family.
"For that reason a special tribute because through good times and
bad times the players always support each other. There are
different personalities and characters but the most important thing
is to all have the same objectives.
"Gareth Southgate is the correct person to take the club forward
because he has respect as a person and as a coach.
"That is a great quality because most of the time this does not
happen with players that become managers, as they lose respect
towards the players.
"When this kind of thing is missing the players do not show respect
to the manager but this is not the case with Gareth.
"To the Middlesbrough fans, a special message that they must
support the club and stick with Gareth. You have a good chairman
who supports the manager. The supporters must be part of the same
objective.
"Personally, I would like to say thanks for their support to me
because the fans are very passionate about the club and are anxious
for success and I hope the club achieves that.
"Middlesbrough Football Club is always going to be a special club
to me."
Boro boss Gareth Southgate revealed that the club could not agree
terms with Xavier - who is now being strongly linked with a move to
America or Asia.
"We have been unable to give Abel the terms he was looking for so
Abel has decided to move on for a new opportunity," Southgate told
the club's website.
"I am disappointed Abel has decided not to stay with us but I'd
like to thank him for his contribution to the club. He always did
well when called upon and we wish him all the best."
Southgate is now left with Andrew Davies and Tony McMahon as right
backs in his squad, as Stuart Parnaby is set to follow Xavier out
of the club this summer - as he is out-of-contract and has also
failed to agree fresh terms.