Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka has put the final touches to a perfect September by winning the divisional Manager of the Month award.

The Spaniard, formerly assistant to Jose Mourinho during the Portuguese's reign at Real Madrid, led Boro to five straight victories in all competitions, as part of a wider run of seven successive wins.

Middlesbrough emerge as promotion favourites

Among these victories were convincing 3-0 victories over Yorkshire rivals Leeds United in the Championship and Wolves in the Capital One Cup, with Boro set to meet Kenny Jackett's side in the league later this month.

And, despite a recent defeat at the hands of fellow promotion contenders Reading, Middlesbrough now sit second in the league table with Karanka hoping to better last season's eventual play-off finish.

Quoted on the Football League's official website, Karanka admitted that to win the award for a second time was "amazing for me", but he was quick to share the credit around the club.

"It's not about me," Karanka insisted, claiming instead that the award was instead for "the staff, the players, the people at the club, and the supporters".

Team comes first for Karanka

His words echo his sentiments from last season, where he and then-Boro playmaker Lee Tomlin cleaned up the Manager and Player of the Month awards for January.

Then, he made sure that as well as their individual photographs, the entire playing squad and members of the backroom staff were photographed gathered around the trophies as a show of the collective spirit and teamwork which Karanka values so highly.

However, he is keen to keep his squad focused on the prize of promotion after last season's play-off final heartbreak, and to ensure the dreaded 'curse' which some claim accompanies winners of the managerial award.

"September was a good month for us," he stated. "We have to keep going in the same way and keep working."

Award wins for Hasselbaink and Coleman

The Teesside connection continued further down the divisions, with former Boro striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink claiming the Manager of the Month award for League One after another impressive month at the helm of recently-promoted Burton Albion.

Meanwhile, a draw followed by four successive victories saw Accrington Stanley manager John Coleman take the trophy in League Two.