Rocky Bows Out In Style

Fabio Rochemback ended his BORO career in style at the weekend as he waited until his final game to show us why he has been taking the BORO free-kicks for the last three years.

Rocky fired in a truly unstoppable 35-yard belter in BORO's 8-1 humiliation of Man City on Sunday. But now he is jetting off to Portugal to undergo a medical ahead of his move "back home" to Sporting Lisbon.

BORO opted not to take up their two-year extension option on Rochemback's contract after an up and down career with the club. However this has arguably been Rocky's best season with BORO and his performance on Sunday might only frustrate the club that always maintained confidence in his abilities despite mixed performances.

"I am happy to be able to return to Lisbon. I was always wanted in Sporting and it feels like home." - Rochemback told SkySports News.


Meanwhile BORO have also confirmed that long-standing midfielder Gaizka Mednieta and South Korean flop Dong Gook Lee have been released by the club. Mendi has been with BORO since he was signed from Lazio, by Steve McClaren, back in 2004 after a successful loan spell in which he helped BORO to their first piece of silverware, the Carling Cup. However Mendi has not featured for the BORO first team since 2006, but has enjoyed some success with an extended run in the reserve team.

Dong Gook Lee, however, has endured a frustrating time on Teesside since his move from Pohang Steelers in January last year. Lee was pitched as one of Korea's best players and brought much expectation with him to The Riverside, but after failing to score more than 2 goals in his 18 months with the club, BORO have decided to let him go as his contract runs out this month.

Quotes & pictures courtesy of SkySports (www.skysports.com/football) & MFC official website (www.mfc.co.uk)