Middlesbrough turn to Southgate

UEFA Cup runners-up Middlesbrough FC have named club captain Gareth Southgate as their new manager in place of Steve McClaren, who will succeed Sven-Göran Eriksson as England coach after the FIFA World Cup.

'Fantastic opportunity'
"I'm absolutely delighted, it's a fantastic opportunity for me," said Southgate, who has been offered a five-year contract by the English Premiership side. "Opportunities like this don't come very often, it's a fresh challenge and one I'm relishing. I've had a fantastic playing career but this is an exciting new opportunity. We're still working on the backroom staff but I don't see much change in that department. One of the reasons I took this job is the excellent structure already here."

Vast experience
Southgate has made over 500 league appearances in a professional career that started with Crystal Palace FC in 1990/91 before he switched to Aston Villa FC in 1995. The 35-year-old won the majority of his 57 England caps during his six seasons at Villa Park, and McClaren was persuaded to make the defender his first signing on taking charge of Middlesbrough, paying Villa €9.5m for his services in the summer of 2001. Southgate became a popular figure at the Riverside stadium and was the first Middlesbrough captain to lift a trophy following the victory in the 2004 English League Cup final. He also wore the armband in the UEFA Cup final in Eindhoven two years later, although that game ended in a 4-0 defeat by Sevilla FC.

Huth move
While Southgate intends to retain his playing registration, the appointment effectively ends his playing days. The new manager has moved quickly to find a successor at the heart of the Middlesbrough defence, agreeing an undisclosed fee with Chelsea FC for 21-year-old centre-back Robert Huth, who is with Germany at the FIFA World Cup finals.