Whatever happens when Trent Alexander-Arnold steps out in Real Madrid white for the first time, it won’t be as bad as the last English defender to do it.
The former Liverpool vice captain is set to debut for Los Blancos at the Club World Cup after his new team paid a sizable £10million to get him out of his expiring contract two weeks early.
Alexander-Arnold's debut is imminent, but history isn't on his side
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Alexander-Arnold's debut is imminent, but history isn't on his sideCredit: Getty
Their last English defender didn't appear for well over a year
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Their last English defender didn't appear for well over a yearCredit: Getty
Lining up against 2024 Saudi Pro League champions Al Hilal is unlikely to be a task that tests his often questioned defensive capabilities, and he should go in with some confidence.
Paving the path for him has been countryman Jude Bellingham who rubbished all stereotypes about British players abroad by becoming a certified Galactico.
Yet doing that up front and in midfield means less can go wrong than it did when Jonathan Woodgate became Los Blancos’ sixth Englishman in 2004.
President Florentino Perez became obsessed with the Three Lions after the sporting and commercial success of David Beckham in 2003, so decided to add not just one but two more.
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Liverpudlian Ballon d’Or winner Michael Owen made plenty of sense, but Newcastle’s Woodgate - not so much.
Arriving for what was at the time a hefty £13.4m eyebrows were raised and not just because of the price.
In his past two seasons at St James’ Park he managed ten and then 27 appearances, and before that at Leeds things weren’t much better.
Breaking onto the scene as one of the country’s most promising talents in 1998 he registered 33 matches and then 49 for the Whites, but after that he didn’t complete a full season.
In fact, things only got worse in Spain as a training incident forced him to miss the entirety of his debut campaign.
Madrid fans had to wait a massive 516 days to finally see Woodgate play for them, and what a memorable debut it was. Just not in a good way.
Woodgate started by nodding a ball past Casillas for an own-goal
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Woodgate started by nodding a ball past Casillas for an own-goalCredit: AFP
And then a first yellow card came
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And then a first yellow card cameCredit: Getty
With 24 minutes on the clock at home against Athletic Bilbao, the centre back tried to head away a Joseba Etxeberria shot, but ended up redirecting it past Iker Casillas for an own goal.
Woodgate was booked a minute before half-time, and headed into the changing room with his team a goal down thanks to his intervention, and he’d have been desperately hoping for a better second 45.
Robinho equalised in the 53rd minute to give Woodgate some hope, but then in the 66th he took down Etxeberria for not only a red, but what’s still to this day widely cited as the worst debut in football history.
The match eventually finished 3-1 thanks to a Raul double, and to his credit, Woodgate faced the fury of the Madrid media and fronted up post-match, perhaps in a way of saying thank you to the home fans that cheered him off.
The then 25-year-old said: "It was not the best start in the world. I couldn't believe it.
“I went to try to block the ball and it just skimmed off my head. Obviously, I did not want to get an own goal.
There was worse to come for Woodgate
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There was worse to come for WoodgateCredit: Getty
Beckham couldn't believe what he was seeing
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Beckham couldn't believe what he was seeingCredit: Getty
"I just can't believe I got sent off. I didn't think the second yellow card was right, but it's the referee's decision.
"I want to thank the public, who were brilliant when I was walking off. They were all clapping and cheering."
Woodgate would play 13 more times for the LaLiga giants, winning ten of those matches and even scoring a goal.
His last appearance saw him manage just nine minutes against Arsenal in a Champions League 1-0 first leg defeat, with the Gunners finishing the job to leave Los Blancos trophyless for the season.
It was a forgettable season with an unforgettable debut to at least make Alexander-Arnold’s upcoming one less of a concern.
Woodgate departed for the club he supported, Middlesbrough, and played for them either side of stints with Tottenham and Stoke where he rediscovered some form and stability despite intermittent injuries still characterising his career.
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Woodgate had the high of a goal for Madrid
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Woodgate had the high of a goal for MadridCredit: AFP
But his debut overshadowed his career due to the lack of appearances
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But his debut overshadowed his career due to the lack of appearances
His Newcastle manager, Sir Bobby Robson commented of the defender: “At his best, he's the best in the country."
And at his worst, he was part of footballing folklore that surely Alexander Arnold will even be aware of two decades later.
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