The England international insists that joining Middlesbrough was NOT a sacrifice ... because his hometown club CAN win silverware.Woodgate Wants To Be Boro's Alan Shearer!
The England international insists that joining Middlesbrough was NOT a sacrifice ... because his hometown club CAN win silverware.Yes, I know you're laughing, but Jonathan is on a mission.
He shocked many in football when he made last season's loan spell from Real Madrid a £7 million permanent deal in April.
But he claims he has followed Alan Shearer's lead in snubbing bigger clubs to sign for the team he has supported since a child.
Although, let me take you back to May when he said: "I did not join Middlesbrough because it was my hometown club. Gareth Southgate seemed to want me more than Glenn Roeder. All I got from Roeder was 'how is the injury ... do you think you can last a full season?', which made me think he had doubts."
Woodgate says he has no regrets and believes winning a trophy with Boro will validate his decision.
Woodgate: "Sometimes you have to make sacrifices in your career but I have come here thinking Middlesbrough can win things.
"How much better to be part of something that you helped to build? If I'd gone to Spurs or Liverpool someone would have said I was only going there for the money.
"Ask John Terry, ask Steven Gerrard what it means to play for your hometown club. Would Alan Shearer change a thing?"