Transfer flops - Jonathan Woodgate

Sports Portal hopes all it's readers had a lovely festive season, and apologises for the lack of posts.  You see, we like to gorge ourselves too.  But we are back and ready to crack on, with another in our transfer flops series.

When Real Madrid decided to splash out on English centre back Jonathan Woodgate, it kick started a chain of events that swayed the fine line between horrendously tragic and outright hilarious.  After possibly the worst debut one could imagine things didn't exactly get better, double figures of appearances was just reached, injuries reared their ugly head and an unwanted award was attained.  However before we delve deeper, let's see how his career went before the big move to La Liga.

After beginning his career at hometown club Middlesbrough, a teenage Woodgate was quickly on the move to Yorkshire and Leeds United in 1996 after disagreements between his family and the club.  Here it took two years to crack into the first team, where it really began to take off.  During his five years at the club he became a mainstay of the defence, being described as the 'jewel in the crown.'  But as the clubs terrible financial predicament came to light Peter Risdale cashed in, much to the dismay of the fans who also saw Terry Venebles follow out of the exit door.

Being paraded by Real Madrid at the Bernabeu

Newcastle United was his next destination, where a series of stunning displays established Woodgate as a firm favourite amongst the Toon Army.  However this is where the start of the problems began, with a serious injury ending his 2003/04 Premier League season early.

This is where the foray onto the continent materialised, with Real Madrid spending over £13m for a player that was injured.  Woodgate spent his entire first season at the Bernabeu sidelined, and had to wait until September 2005 to finally take to the pitch in the resplendent white synonymous of the club.  Though it didn't exactly go to plan, with an own goal followed by a sending off.  After briefly, and I mean briefly, flirting with success it was soon snatched away with another injury.  Since his departure, users of Spanish daily Marca voted him the worst football signing ever with 37.11% going to the Englishman.

It was back home in the truest sense of the word for Woodgate, where a successful year long loan at Middlesbrough was turned into a £7m move ahead of the 2007/08 Premiership season.  During the season though more injury troubles reared their head, with David Wheater taking his place and retaining it, meaning no way back.  Due to this it meant another move was on the cards, this time to White Hart Lane.

Woodgate upon signing for Stoke City

Initially life at Tottenham Hotspur seemed to suit Woodgate, where he settled in and was even handed the captaincy a few months after signing.  But once again injuries took their toll, and his appearances dwindled due to a virtual standstill.  After a lot of persistence Harry Redknapp decided to cut the clubs losses, after the player apparently rejected a pay as you play deal, and he was released.

All was not lost for Woodgate though, and Tony Pulis gave the defender another chance in the Premier League at Stoke City.  This time the pay as you play deal was accepted, and after a stellar start to life at The Brittania Stadium his level of performances have since fallen.  What could possibly happen next in the topsy turvy career of Jonathan Woodgate?