Jonathan Woodgate

Jonathan Simon Woodgate (born 22 January 1980 in Nunthorpe, Middlesbrough) is an English football (soccer), who plays as a defender (football) for FA Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur F.C.. Jonathan Woodgate has previously played at Leeds United A.F.C., Newcastle United F.C. and Middlesbrough F.C. as well as a spell in Spain with Real Madrid C.F..

Club career

Leeds United

Woodgate began Jonathan Woodgate career at Middlesbrough F.C. but moved to Leeds United A.F.C. at the age of sixteen after disagreements over Jonathan Woodgate future between Middlesbrough and Jonathan Woodgate family. Jonathan Woodgate helped Leeds to win the FA Youth Cup in 1997, and in November the following year made Jonathan Woodgate debut for the senior side.
At Leeds Woodgate helped Leeds to reach the semi final of the UEFA Champions league in 2001

In 2000 Jonathan Woodgate was a defendant with teammate Lee Bowyer in a Crown Court trial due to Jonathan Woodgate involvement with an incident outside Leeds nightclub, Majestyks, in which a student suffered severe injuries. The initial trial collapsed and following a second trial, in December 2001, Bowyer was cleared of both charges while Woodgate was convicted of affray and sentenced to 100 hours' community service. Jonathan Woodgate was also banned from international selection by the Football Association, which prevented Jonathan Woodgate from being selected for the England squad for the 2002 World Cup.

Newcastle United

Woodgate signed for Newcastle United in January 2003 for £9 million.
Jonathan Woodgate impressed and quickly became a fan favourite, but a serious injury saw Jonathan Woodgate end Jonathan Woodgate final season somewhat early. Woodgate never really had an injury-free run in the team, although Jonathan Woodgate finest moment in a Newcastle shirt arguably came in the UEFA Cup 2003–04 Semi-Final match against Olympique de Marseille at St James' Park where Jonathan Woodgate marked Didier Drogba out of the game.

Real Madrid

Woodgate signed for Real Madrid in August 2004 for a transfer fee of £13.4 million. This was to the surprise of many in the football world, due to Jonathan Woodgate frequent absences through injury at Jonathan Woodgate previous clubs, and indeed Jonathan Woodgate was injured at the time of the transfer.

Woodgate did not make any appearances for Real Madrid in Jonathan Woodgate first season in Spain, eventually making Jonathan Woodgate debut on 22 September 2005, in a league match against Athletic Bilbao. The game went badly for him, as Jonathan Woodgate scored an own goal and was later sent off for a second bookable offence; however, Woodgate was applauded and cheered from the pitch and was regarded for a period of Jonathan Woodgate time at the club as something of a cult-hero. Jonathan Woodgate scored Jonathan Woodgate first goal for Real Madrid in the 4-1 UEFA Champions League defeat of Rosenborg BK on 19 October 2005, Jonathan Woodgate first appearance for the club in European competition.

By February 2006, Woodgate had established himself as a first-team player, with the other centre half position rotating among Sergio Ramos, Iván Helguera, Francisco Pavon and Álvaro Pérez Mejía. One Spanish newspaper even described Jonathan Woodgate as having "become Madrid's true leader". However, further injury setbacks again stopped Jonathan Woodgate playing. Jonathan Woodgate was considered to have an outside chance of making the England squad for Germany 2006, but due to surgery on Jonathan Woodgate back was not named in the squad.

In July 2007, Woodgate was voted the worst signing of the 21st century by users of the website of Spain's leading sports daily, Diario Marca. The 27-year-old was the runaway winner polling 37.11 percent of the votes cast.

Middlesbrough

On 30 August 2006, Woodgate signed a one-year loan move to hometown club Middlesbrough.
Jonathan Woodgate made Jonathan Woodgate debut against Arsenal F.C. at The Emirates Stadium on 9 September. Jonathan Woodgate was later voted man of the match by 100-102 Century FM. Jonathan Woodgate was made captain for Jonathan Woodgate second game for Middlesbrough, as usual Captain (football) George Boateng was suspended. In April 2007 Middlesbrough announced Woodgate would be their first summer signing for £7 million. Jonathan Woodgate signed a four year contract, keeping Jonathan Woodgate at the club till 2011.
In October 2007 Jonathan Woodgate was crowned North East Player of the Year by the Prince's Trust, beating players from Newcastle and Sunderland. After Jonathan Woodgate loan-deal ended Middlesbrough signed the defender for £7,000,000, but during 2007/2008 pre-season Woodgate suffered an injury that allowed fellow hometown defender David Wheater to start in Jonathan Woodgate place during pre-season. Wheaters form in pre-season earened Jonathan Woodgate a starting XI place for the opening day Premier League fixture - Wheaters form then continued which triggered the transfer of Woodgate to Tottenham as Wheater became the first name on the 'Boro team sheet.

Tottenham Hotspur

On 28 January 2008 Woodgate moved to Tottenham Hotspur for a fee of £7 million and was given the number 39 shirt. Woodgate made Jonathan Woodgate Tottenham debut against Everton F.C. on 30 January 2008. Jonathan Woodgate scored Jonathan Woodgate first Tottenham goal on 24 February 2008 in the Football League Cup 2007-08 final against Chelsea F.C. in extra time to win Tottenham their first trophy since 1999. Jonathan Woodgate performance won Jonathan Woodgate the Man of the Match award.
Woodgate scored Jonathan Woodgate first Spurs league goal on 19 March 2008, coincidentally also against Chelsea, in a 4–4 draw at White Hart Lane Jonathan Woodgate first captained Tottenham in a 2-1 defeat at The Lane to Aston Villa on September 15, 2008. Following Harry Redknapp's appointment, Woodgate became the second vice-captain, behind Robbie Keane. On Spurs' disastrous start to the 2008–09_in_English_football, Woodgate told the press that it was worse than when Leeds were relegated. This despite the fact that Woodgate was transferred to Newcastle United some 16 months before Leeds's eventual relegation at the end of FA_Premier_League_2003-04.

International career

Jonathan Woodgate was capped several times by England national football team while at Leeds, making Jonathan Woodgate debut for the national side under manager Kevin Keegan in 1999, when Jonathan Woodgate became the first player born in the 1980s to win a full England cap (sport). However, both Jonathan Woodgate club and international career have frequently been interrupted, not only by injury, but by controversy.

Woodgate won Jonathan Woodgate sixth cap - almost three years after Jonathan Woodgate fifth - and Jonathan Woodgate first start in an international friendly against Spain national football team on 7 February 2007.