#PLStories- Cherries player Marcus Tavernier thanks Jonathan Woodgate for his recognition as squad leader #AFCB

MARCUS Tavernier praised the impact former Cherries boss Jonathan Woodgate had on his career, insisting: “I can say nothing but good words about him.” Tavernier worked with Woodgate during the pair’s time at Middlesbrough. Former Real Madrid and England defender Woodgate worked on-and-off at Boro, as part of the first team coaching staff or academy, between 2017 and 2019. He then stepped up to take the top job for a year, before being sacked in June 2020. During that time, talented Tavernier was coming up through the ranks at the Teesside club. He made his senior debut in August 2017, but only starting to become a regular in the side when Woodgate took the helm. In all, Tavernier made 32 first-team appearances under the former Tottenham Hotspur centre-back, before then going from strength-to-strength under Neil Warnock and Chris Wilder. The Premier League came calling over the summer, with Tavernier having played a key part for Cherries this season following his reported £12million move, starting all 15 top-flight matches. He scored two goals and provided four assists in the three games prior to the World Cup break. Woodgate spent almost five months as Cherries boss, initially on an interim basis, in 2021, guiding them to the Championship play-offs. He left the club that summer, following defeat over two legs to Brentford, before resuming punditry work. Woodgate returned to football in October, appointed as a first-team coach under new boss Michael Carrick at Boro. “He was great for me,” Tavernier told the Daily Echo, discussing his time working under Woodgate. “He’s the one who gave me my first proper chance at Middlesbrough and I can say nothing but good words about him. “He gave me hard times at times, but that’s what I needed as a young lad. I needed that to learn my trade and I know what I needed to do coming forward.” Asked if Woodgate had messaged him after making the switch down south from Middlesbrough to Cherries over the summer, Tavernier said: “No, he didn’t. But I’ve changed my number, so he might have on my old number!” Despite only turning 23 himself this year, Tavernier’s leadership potential could play an important role as part of a youthful Cherries squad. The versatile midfielder has previous captaincy experience with England under-20s, leading a squad which included the likes of Tariq Lamptey, Conor Gallagher and Japhet Tanganga. Asked if he sees himself as a leader given his international exploits, Tavernier said: “Yeah, it’s something Jonathan Woodgate talked about to me when I was at Middlesbrough. “He said that he’s seen that in me, me being a leader. “I believe I’ve got it in me and it’s just something that I can only learn over time as I get older and get more experience in this league.”