Woodgate hopes to follow in Southgate’s footsteps after taking Middlesbrough job

Jonathan Woodgate is planning to follow in the footsteps of England boss Gareth Southgate as he launches his managerial career at home-town club Middlesbrough.The 39-year-old has been appointed as Boros head coach on a three-year contract after chairman Steve Gibson, as he has done in the past with Bryan Robson, Steve McClaren, Southgate and Aitor Karanka, handed the reins to a first-time boss.Southgate and McClaren have since both gone on to manage England, while Robson presided over the clubs first Premier League adventure and Karanka guided the Teessiders back into the top flight in 2016.T E A M #UTB pic.twitter.com/JpRKL4FKJq Middlesbrough FC (@Boro) June 14, 2019Asked if he too could use his time at the Riverside Stadium as a launchpad, Woodgate said: Those managers have had great success and been incredible managers, especially Gareth, who has gone on to be England manager and has done an unbelievable job.Listen, this is the start of my pathway and hopefully it builds up like that.Gibson appointed former defender Woodgate, who made a total of 112 appearances for the club during a glittering career which also took him to Leeds, Newcastle, Real Madrid, Tottenham and Stoke, after a lengthy interview process in which the Teessider proved impressive.Asked what he had seen in Woodgate which he had also observed in some of his predecessors, the chairman said: Basically the same qualities I saw in the others, a real determination, and great football history. View this post on Instagram I feel privileged, humbled and honoured to be the new head coach of my hometown club @theboroofficial. I want to play an exciting, attacking brand of football, with high pressure. I want the fans to be able to connect with the players. Im delighted to be joined by @robbiekeane, Leo, and Danny Coyne. Weve got a philosophy at the club that I believe in and we are looking to develop a new identity. Thank you for all your support and I cant wait to get started and take us forward together. #UTBA post shared by Jonathan Woodgate (@jonathanwoodgate39) on Jun 14, 2019 at 1:16am PDTIf you look at Bryan, Captain Marvel of England, Aitor, three Champions Leagues, Steve McClaren won the Treble with Manchester United as a coach they were all big, big, strong football people and Jonathan is that.Hes a character, hes his own man, he knows what he wants. Hes the one in the dressing room while hes been here to always say what he thinks.I see a lot of qualities in Jonathan and I think he could be one for now, one for next year and certainly one for the future, and Im prepared to back that by giving him the job.With some familiar faces and a fresh one too, get to know #Boro's new-look senior coaching team #UTB Middlesbrough FC (@Boro) June 14, 2019Woodgate, who has drafted in Robbie Keane, Leo Percovich and Danny Coyne as his coaching staff, has been handed the task of establishing a golden thread which runs through the clubs age groups and has vowed to bring an attacking philosophy to the first team which was largely absent as Boro missed out on the play-offs last season.The new head coach, who worked under the likes of David OLeary, Sir Bobby Robson, Terry Venables and Harry Redknapp during his playing days, said: I want to win games scoring goals. If you look at this league now, you go up by scoring goals. If you dont, you wont go up.If you look at my backroom team Leo, Danny and Robbie well have that in abundance, especially with Robbie by my side.Can you imagine the young players at this football club learning from Robbie Keane?(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){
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