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Woodgate - Fate's Bitter Victim | 
Rewind back to 2003 and you’ll see that Jonathan Woodgate had everything. From critical acclaim to a huge fan following, he had all the essentials required to go down in the Newcastle folklore as one of the very best defenders of all time. However, the only obstacle that could stop him – injuries – came into play very early into his career at St. James’ Park following a high-profile move from Leeds United.
Despite being restricted to 37 total appearances over the course of two seasons, Woodgate managed to impress remarkably without needing to score even once. In arguably the best defensive performance of the 2003-04 season, he managed to mark a rapidly emerging Didier Drogba out the UEFA Cup semifinal against Marseille that season.
Unfortunately, hernia problems prevented him from furthering his Newcastle career as he became sidelined at the beginning of the 2004-05 season. However, life had other plans for Woodgate as he was flown to the Spanish capital to add to Real Madrid’s big-money signings during the first Galacticos era.
The England international spent a whole season in the treatment room at Santiago Bernabeu but was included in the first team squad promptly following his return. After all, Real Madrid’s defensive woes had perhaps worsened more than ever before in the 2005-06 season with the pairing of Pavon and Ivan Helguera proving a huge failure.
Unsurprisingly, Woodgate was welcomed by the vocal fans of Los Blancos, who had hoped that the Middlesbrough-born defender would replicate the effective displays of compatriot Michael Owen. While Woodgate’s debut was a nightmare that ended in a sending off following two bookings, his quality was noticed far clearly than that of the very unfortunate Owen.
The Spanish media could not stop raving about his confident displays that held Real’s fragile defense together. In addition, he became a permanent fixture in the starting line-up, which also promoted him to the a position where he could mentor the younger defenders at the club. As luck would have it, he had to go under the knife to repair severe injuries that were sustained throughout his career till that point.
As a result, he was restricted to only twelve appearances for the club, which resulted in a single goal against Rosenborg in the UEFA Champions League. Overall, due to costing Real more than a million pounds per each of his appearances, Woodgate was voted the worst signing of the century by a leading Spanish newspaper.
Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate decided to intervene at that point, offering the Bernabeu outfit about half of what they had paid for Woody’s services back in 2004. Southgate believed that upon recovery, Woodgate would go on to become a solid defender who could easily roll his sleeves up in a bid to shut down Boro’s offensively superior league rivals. Fortunately for Woodgate, he would go on to appear 52 times over the course of a season and a half at his hometown club.
At the peak of his career, he made a remarkable switch to Tottenham Hotspur in January 2008, scoring three times in his sixty-one appearances at White Hart Lane. It was becoming increasingly obvious that following his dominance in the Northeast, he was now set to become one of the most prized defenders in the country’s south. However, as his past had foreshadowed, groin problems came back to haunt him at the most inappropriate of times.
With Spurs suffering a defensive crisis due to extended absences on the part of captain Ledley King and Michael Dawson, it was hoped that a speedy recovery for Woodgate was the way for the North London outfit to challenge for honors in the highly competitive 2009-10 season. And just when it appeared that Woody was on his way back to the first team, it seems that he has fallen significantly behind in the progress of his recovery. In fact, on the eve of Tottenham’s Carling Cup visit to Preston, Harry Redknapp has ruled Woodgate out for an indefinite period of time.
As a lifelong fan of the player, I have often wondered what Jonathan Woodgate has done to deserve the series of injuries he has sustained. At a first glance, he looks like the ideal English defender: a strongly built lad with no fear of tackling even the toughest of opponent. However, one can only wish that he enjoyed a career staying healthy like most English center-halves. In a nutshell, Woody is truly one of fate’s extremely bitter victims.
Is Woodgate still a top defender? Have your say below!
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ose that believe in fate might want to blame the court case, but those with a brain know fate is a load of rubbish. If woody is being punished for that, then Ledley King must be responsible for some kind of genicide!!
Woody is a natural defender with an incredible ability that’s never been realised due to injury, that’s all. Playing alongside Lucas & Rio must have been a massive learning experience, but right from day one at Leeds he looked world class, never went to ground and took the mickey out of top prem strikers all day long.
Shame he never reached the heights he clearly had the talent for, but listing Leeds, Newcastle, Real Madrid & Spurs on your CV, plus getting to play for your home town club can’t be looked back on as a failure exactly can it??
Perhaps beating up some kids outside a nightclub might explain why fate has dealt him such a hand
Jonathan Woodgate (or plank has he is nicknamed) is not a victim of fate he is in fact simply getting the “yang” he deserves for activity off the pitch. This includes the infamous “Mill Hill” incident in which he was lucky it wasn’t him that got 6 years for agrivated assult! Has ever Leeds fan who saw himn play will testify it is not ability he has, his touch and passing can blow hot and cold, his playing style is instinctive, almost sublimial. His injury proneness started at Elland Road, i don’t belive he has ever gone a season without one. Being as “thick” has this lad is expect some interesting post football career stuff to make the media but non of it will quite be has funny as the time a girl broke his jaw!