Former England defender Jonathan Woodgate has joined Liverpool after being handed a role on their scouting staff.

Woodgate will specialise primarily on talent in Spain and Portugal, although he will not be confined solely to those countries.

The centre-back was released by hometown club Middlesbrough at the start of the summer following their promotion to the Premier League and, at the age of 36, is taking the first steps into his post-playing career.

He has been to Liverpool’s Melwood training ground and met club officials to discuss his brief.

Woodgate knows Michael Edwards, Liverpool’s Technical Director, from his time at Tottenham as a player.

Woodgate had a spell in Spain with Real Madrid following a £13.4m transfer from Newcastle in 2004, but injury problems blighted his time in La Liga.

He returned to England in 2006 on loan with Middlesbrough, before joining them permanently a year later.

Woodgate, who earned eight caps for England, also played for Tottenham and Stoke City before returning to the Riverside in 2012.

Source: Daily Express

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