PLAYER PROFILE

George Boateng

Position: Midfield

Height: 5'9

Weight: 11st 7lbs

Date of Birth: 1975-09-05 Nkawkaw, Ghana

George Boateng

The former under-21 Dutch international joined Villa from Midlands rivals Coventry City in July 1999 after a long chase by manager John Gregory. The Dutch midfielder initially impressed Gregory after an inspired display for Coventry against Villa in the FA Cup, a game in which he scored twice and tore the Villa defence apart.

Soon after, Gregory offered Coventry £3million for the Ghana-born player. The bid was rejected by the club amid claims that the Aston Villa manager had made an illegal approach. But, at the end of the 1998/99 season and after 6 weeks of negotiations, Boateng was sold to Villa for £4.5million, netting Coventry a tidy profit.

Despite fierce competition for places, Boateng became one of Villa's star players, though he never seemed settled at the club, and was frequently linked with moves away from Villa Park.

That move eventually came in the summer of 2002, when after 131 appearances he signed for Middlesbrough, joining Steve McClaren's Riverside Revolution and his former team-mate Gareth Southgate.

Unfortunately, a series of injuries limited him to 28 appearances in his first season, though he showed in those games just what an important signing he could turn out to be.

He went on to make over 40 appearances during the 2003/04 season, helping Middlesbrough lift their first major trophy ever.

The 2004/05 season was similarly successful. Although he was not a regular in the first-team, he made 29 appearances and scored 3 times.

He was once more integral to Boro's success in the 2005/06 season, scoring a further three goals in 44 appearances.

This fine form continued into 06/07 and he is now a vital and experienced part of an increasingly youthful Boro team.