On This Day – 22nd September
Jonathan Woodgate made his Real Madrid debut on this day back in 2005, in a game that both he and Real Madrid fans will never forget.
Debuts are looked forward to by both the player and fans. The player gets to finally prove his worth to the fans and the fans get to see if their new player was worth the money their club spent on him. As it turns out for Woodgate, it was a day to forget as anything that could go wrong and did!
Woodgate was signed in the summer of 2004 but due to injuries had to wait a full thirteen months before donning the famous Real Madrid jersey.
He was given his first opportunity at home to Athletic Bilbao, partnering a young youth team graduate Francisco Pavon in the heart of the Madrid defence.
20 minutes into the game, Bilbao’s Joseba Etxeberria cut in from the left, his a shot at goal with his right foot towards the far corner of the net. Real’s goalkeeper Iker Casillas dived to save the shot but Woodgate leapt in at the last moment and headed the ball the opposite way, into the far corner of the net. It was a demoralising moment for the defender born in Middlesbrough, but he managed to get up and dust himself down ready to move on from the disastrous start. Surely things couldn’t get any worse?
Oh, but they could! Woodgate clumsily fouled Bilbao’s Carlos Gurpegi shortly before half time and was given a yellow card for his troubles.
Midway through the second half, the debutant received his second yellow card for a raised arm against Exteberria. It was a tad unfortunate and Woodgate’s new team mates tried in vain to get the referee to reconsider. His mind was made up though and the nightmare of all debuts had come to a premature end.
Jonathan Woodgate made a total of fourteen appearances for Real Madrid scoring just once. His solitary goal came in a 4-1 win over Rosenborg in the Champions League.
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