Jonathan Woodgate has been appointed as Middlesbrough’s head coach on a three-year contract, the Championship club have announced.

The 39-year-old former Boro and England defender has been handed the reins following the departure of Tony Pulis at the end of the season.

A club statement said: “Middlesbrough Football Club are delighted to confirm that Jonathan Woodgate will head up a new-look senior coaching team. Jonathan has been appointed as the club’s new head coach and has agreed a three-year contract.

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“Our former captain will be joined by his ex-Leeds and Tottenham team-mate, and current Republic of Ireland assistant manager Robbie Keane, Leo Percovich, who was previously on the coaching staff at the club from 2013-2017, and one-time Boro man Danny Coyne, as goalkeeping coach.

Woodgate has been a coach at the Riverside Stadium since 2017 and impressed the club with his plans for the future. “Jonathan’s vision is very much aligned to our own for the club as we look to develop a new identity.”

Woodgate was born in Middlesbrough and made more than 100 appearances for the club in two spells. The chairman, Steve Gibson, has given him his first job as a manager, as he did with Bryan Robson, Steve McClaren, Gareth Southgate and Aitor Karanka.

“Those managers have had great success and been incredible managers, especially Gareth, who has gone on to be England manager and has done an unbelievable job,” Woodgate said. “Listen, this is the start of my pathway and hopefully it builds up like that.”