Jonathan Woodgate is to join Liverpool as a scout for Spain and Portugal.

The former Leeds, Newcastle and Real Madrid defender has been recruited by Liverpool to look after Iberia and fills a role that was previously held by Julian Ward.

Ward was responsible for recommending Liverpool pursue signings such as Iago Aspas, Luis Alberto and Alberto Moreno and is now in charge of the players Liverpool send out on loan.

Jonathan Woodgate is set to join Liverpool as a scout for players in Spain and Portugal

Woodgate's playing career came to an end with Middlesbrough at the end of last season

WOODGATE HOPING FOR NEW START IN SPAIN Jonathan Woodgate will begin his new role as a scout for Liverpool responsible for looking for players in Spain and Portugal. But Reds fans will hope he'll have more luck searching for talent than he did on his playing debut for Real Madrid. After more than a year out injured, Woodgate's Real bow saw him score an own goal and get sent off against Athletic Bilbao on a day to forget. Hopefully his new career on the continent will start with a better showing. Jonathan Woodgate in Real Madrid colours Advertisement

Woodgate, who also played for Tottenham and Stoke and was capped eight times by England, brought the curtain down on his playing career at the end of last season, having been part of his hometown club Middlesbrough's successful promotion campaign.

In 2004 Woodgate almost joined Liverpool as a player, with Rafa Benitez admitting he wanted to sign him but revealing they could not afford the fee Newcastle United wanted.

Woodgate ended up joining Spanish giants Real Madrid instead in a £13.4million deal which shocked the football world.

Woodgate's time in Spain didn't quite go to plan with persistent injuries hampering his development at the Bernabeu.

The centre half failed to make a single appearance for Madrid in his first season in Spain, eventually making his debut against Bilbao in 2005. It was a bow Woodgate is keen to forget - he scored an own goal and was sent off.

Woodgate nearly joined Liverpool as a player under Rafael Benitez back in 2004

Woodgate also played for Tottenham and Stoke and was capped eight times by England

He failed to make England's squad for the 2006 World Cup and left Madrid in that year for a one-year loan spell at Middlesbrough.

After rejecting the chance to re-sign for Newcastle, Woodgate moved to Tottenham for a fee of £8m in January 2008.