Matthew Bates
Personal information
Full name	Matthew David Bates
Date of birth	10 December 1986 (1986-12-10) (age 22)
Place of birth	Stockton, England
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Playing position	Defender, Midfielder
Club information
Current club	Middlesbrough
Number	4
Senior career1
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
2004– 2005 2006 2008	Middlesbrough → Darlington (loan) → Ipswich Town (loan) → Norwich City (loan)	36 (1) 04 (0) 02 (0) 03 (0)
National team2
2004	England U20	01 (0)
1 Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 21:38, 20 August 2009 (UTC). 2 National team caps and goals correct as of 05:57, 17 March 2009 (UTC). * Appearances (Goals)

Matthew David Bates (born 10 December 1986 in Stockton) is an English professional football player who currently plays as a defender for Middlesbrough.

Contents 1 Career 2 Personal life 3 Honours 3.1 As a player 4 References 5 External links

[edit] Career

Born in Stockton-on-Tees and raised in Eaglescliffe, Bates began playing at Manchester United's centre of excellence in Birtley since the age of nine. Several years later, the centre was closed down and he was taken in by his hometown club Middlesbrough. After tasting FA Youth Cup success in 2003-04, he was promoted to the first team and made his debut on 6 December 2004, coming on as an injury time replacement for Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink in a 3-2 win over Manchester City. After a successful loan spell at Darlington, he made a breakthrough, making 28 appearances and played alongside former manager Gareth Southgate.^[1]

Bates had been tipped by some to be Southgate's successfor but an injury while on loan at Ipswich in November 2006 prematurely ended his 2006-07 season. He was seriously injured in his second game, tearing his cruciate ligament and partially tearing his medial ligament and returned to Boro.^[2] After recovering in January 2008, Bates moved on loan to Norwich City for two months. He later returned to Middlesbrough after suffering from another knee injury which has resulted in him needing an operation for the third time in just 18 months.^[3] He scored his first league goal for Middlesbrough in a crucial 3-1 win over relegation rivals Hull on 11 April 2009.^[4]

Following Middlesbrough's relegation from the Premier League in the 2008-09 season, rumours arose regarding his future with them. However, despite a number of Premier League clubs being interested, he opted to stay at Middlesbrough signed a new three-year deal at the Riverside outfit.^[5]

On 25 July, Bates suffered the fourth serious knee injury of his career and could be sidelined for the rest of the year. ^[6] He went for surgery in September and is confirmed to be out for the entire season.^[7]

[edit] Personal life

Bates hit the tabloid headlines in September 2006 when private photographs of him were posted on the internet, one of which showed him wearing a pair of skimpy briefs, another kneeling in front of a mirror, naked apart from a pair of socks, with his penis semi-erect. It is understood that he had taken the pictures himself over a period of months for the benefit of his then girlfriend.^[8]

[edit] Honours

[edit] As a player

Middlesbrough

• UEFA Cup runner-up: 2005–06

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Matthew Bates career stats at Soccerbase

v • d • e Middlesbrough F.C. – current squad 1 Jones · 2 Hoyte · 3 Taylor · 4 Bates · 5 Riggott · 6 Pogatetz · 7 Yeates · 8 Digard · 9 Lita · 10 Aliadière · 11 Emnes · 12 St Ledger · 14 Folan · 15 Shawky · 16 O'Neil · 18 A. Johnson · 19 Bent · 20 Arca · 21 Coyne · 22 Walker · 23 Grounds · 24 Hines · 25 Williams · 27 Bennett · 28 Franks · 29 McMahon · 30 Steele · 31 Wheater · 32 Porritt · 33 Kitson · 34 Osbourne · Manager: Strachan

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