Jonathan Woodgate has told the Spanish media he had to take former Leeds United head physio Dave Hancock to Madrid to help save his career.
The former Leeds United defender spent three seasons with Real Madrid, but his time in Spain was hampered by injury.
Speaking to AS, Woodgate was asked about the succession of injuries he picked up, and picked out his second season.
Ahead of a friendly against Arsenal, Woodgate knew there was an issue but played anyway: “The day before I had felt my hamstring. I said: ‘It can’t be, you’re playing and again … You have to try.’ So I played knowing that I would injure myself again. And it happened.”
AS wanted to know how the former Leeds United player came back from that blow, and the general ‘nightmare’ he said he’d experienced, and it was with help from Elland Road.
“It was then that I saw a friend from Leeds named Dave Hancock. He came to Madrid to see all the facilities, and I worked with him for three months. And he got me in shape, saved my career.”
Woodgate made clear he sympathises with Gareth Bale’s situation at Real Madrid, and that was mainly why the Spanish newspaper wanted to speak with him: “I know how Bale feels, I lived a nightmare.”
Woodgate joined Real Madrid from Newcastle United in 2003, but it was at Leeds United the now 37 year old made his name, and arguably played his best football.
The former England international finished his youth career with Leeds United after joining from Middlesbrough’s academy, and would go on to make over 100 league appearances for the Elland Road side.
Part of the Leeds United team which reached the Champions League semi-finals in 2001, Woodgate was one of a number of players to move on due to financial problems.
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