Jonathan Woodgate was among those who secured his UEFA Pro Licence this week despite already managing both Middlesbrough and Bournemouth in the Championship – as Leeds United’s search for a new manager continues.
Woodgate, 43, is currently on the coaching staff at Middlesbrough under Michael Carrick. Working as a first-team coach, it comes after actually managing Boro during the 19-20 season – struggling, winning only nine of 41 games.
The ex-Leeds defender – who played 142 times for the Whites before spells at the likes of Newcastle, Tottenham and Real Madrid – then joined the Bournemouth coaching staff. He became boss in February 2021, for 23 games.
Winning 13 of those 23 games, he guided Bournemouth into the play-offs but lost in the semi-finals to Brentford, who of course would win go on to get promoted. Woodgate has returned to Boro, and now has his Pro Licence.
Woodgate secures Pro Licence as Leeds search for manager continues
Plenty of managers have been linked. Steven Gerrard, Brendan Rodgers, Graham Potter, Carlos Corberan, Regis Le Bris, Rob Edwards, Carlos Carvalhal. Rodgers and Potter are unlikely to want to drop down into the Championship.
Le Bris has agreed to join Nice. Carvalhal and Corberan could be tempted to leave Celta Vigo and West Brom, but Leeds will have to pay. Edwards has just gained promotion with Luton. Gerrard is a viable option, as things stand.
Indeed, the Anfield icon is the most likely of that list. Woodgate, meanwhile, knows Leeds and while his CV is hardly glamorous, he knows the Championship with both spells coming in the second tier. Unlikely, but a potential option.
Plenty needs to be done at Leeds this summer, with a manager not actually a priority. Getting a takeover done and the 49ers buying Andrea Radrizzani out is top of the list and from there on in, other things will surely fall into place.
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