Middlesbrough sporting director Kieran Scott has praised ex-Leeds United defender Jonathan Woodgate for providing 'perfect balance' to Michael Carrick.
Woodgate made a surprise return to the Riverside Stadium when he was appointed first team coach by Carrick in October. After briefly serving as a scout at Liverpool, Woodgate launched his coaching career at Middlesbrough. After serving as assistant manager under the likes of Tony Pulis and Garry Monk, Woodgate was handed the reins in the summer of 2019.
He was dismissed after only 38 league games, with Boro sitting just one place above the relegation zone. After his departure, Woodgate spent just two days as assistant of Bournemouth, before taking over from Jason Tindall at Dean Court.
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Woodgate guided Bournemouth to the Championship play-offs, but left the South Coast club at the end of the 2020/21 season. He worked as a pundit during his break from the game, but Scott believes Woodgate has injected 'Teesside blood' back into the club.
"One thing that he really brings is the Teesside blood, which I felt was missing. I felt the club needed that and there's no denying that element with Jonathan," Scott told Teesside Live.
"He's a very good coach, I'd seen him at Bournemouth and heard good things. The year we went up with Norwich, Bournemouth were on our tails so you naturally hear things. I saw him in work. They beat us 3-1 at Carrow Road that year at a time when nobody was beating us at Carrow Road.
"They had good players, don't get me wrong, but you could see what he was trying to do. I could see he'd learnt a lot from his Middlesbrough days even at that point, and he's had even more time now. He's a bloke first and foremost, there's nowhere to hide with him, and I really like that.
"He's a good coach, the players respect him, he has the best interests of Middlesbrough in his heart all the time. He cares deeply for the young players coming through. He brings loads and he's the perfect balance to Michael."
Woodgate started his career at Leeds and made 142 appearances across his four-and-a-half seasons at Elland Road. He helped guide the Whites to the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup and Champions League, before switching to Newcastle United in January 2003.
He went onto play for Real Madrid, Tottenham Hotspur and Stoke City respectively, and spent two separate spells with his hometown club Middlesbrough. Woodgate was also capped eight times by England but never represented his country at a major international tournament.
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