10 Players Who Proved Life Isn't Always Better After Newcastle

3. Jonathan Woodgate

Moving from Newcastle United to Real Madrid? Absolute no-brainer. But in the case of Jonathan Woodgate at least, maybe staying put for a year or two more could have worked out a lot better for him. The centre back, who is still recognised by many as the best the club has seen in the Premier League era, left United in August 2004 for a transfer fee of £13.4 million, handing The Magpies, what was then, their biggest fee received for a player in the process. The dream move that everyone who kicks a football fantasises about soon turned into a nightmare for the then England international as he would have to wait 13 months to make his debut due to injury. And when he did, there's little doubting that he wished he didn't as he scored an own goal and was sent off. After only 14 appearances in two seasons he was loaned to his home town club Middlesbrough before completing a £7 million transfer to The Riverside. On a smaller stage than the one he would have been afforded if he stayed at Newcastle, Woody flourished and reclaimed his spot in the England squad. Things got even better for the former Leeds man as he earned a move to Tottenham Hotspur. After three more injury-ridden years at White Hart Lane, Woodgate signed for Stoke on a free before returning to Middlesbrough. Even though turning down Real Madrid would have been one of the most ridiculous decisions in the history of football, you can't help but think they way his career was heading at Newcastle that staying put would have benefited Jonathan Woodgate's career. However, you can't do anything about getting injured. He was simply unlucky during his time in Spain...