Middlesbrough’s 2006 UEFA Cup Final XI: Where are they now?

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Middlesbrough’s starting XI for their 2006 UEFA Cup final featured the current England manager and a midfielder still starring at the Riverside.

Middlesbrough’s 2006 UEFA Cup final team photograph

The 2005/06 season was the season of cup runs for Middlesbrough, who reached the quarter-finals of the League Cup, the semi-finals of the FA Cup and the final of the UEFA Cup. It was Steve McClaren’s last season in charge ahead of taking the reigns as England manager, and the 2006 UEFA Cup final was his last game.

Ultimately, Boro were roundly beaten, as a star-studded Sevilla team featuring the likes of Dani Alves, Jesus Navas, Adriano, Luis Fabiano, Javier Saviola and Freddy Kanoute defeated McClaren’s men 4-0. It was a disappointing end to a magnificent cup run, but their victories on route to the final against Roma and Basel will forever be remembered as some of the finest nights in the clubs long history.

A decade on from Boro’s final at the Philips Stadion in Holland, we take a look at the Middlesbrough XI which started that night and what they are doing now. Unsurprisingly, many have now retired, although one is still starring in the North East and another is now playing for a Premier League rival.

Middlesbrough were beaten 4-0 by Sevilla

Mark Schwarzer

Mark Schwarzer spent 11 years at Middlesbrough, playing 445 games, before leaving the Riverside to join Fulham. The 44-year-old shot stopper has won the Premier League in both of the last 2 seasons as a backup goalkeeper for Chelsea and Leicester, becoming the first player since Eric Cantona to win consecutive English championships with different clubs. He is currently a free agent having been released by the Foxes at the end of last season.

Stuart Parnaby

Another long-term servant to Middlesbrough, Stuart Parnaby spent 8 years at the club in 2 separate spells, although his career was plagued by injury troubles. Now aged 34, Parnaby is currently a conditioning coach at Hartlepool United.

Chris Riggott

Former England under-21 international Chris Riggott spent 7 years at Boro between 2003 and 2010, making 148 appearances for the club. After leaving Middlesbrough, Riggott had spells with Cardiff City, Derby County and Burton Albion, although he made only 2 appearances in south Wales and no appearances for either of the latter two. He retired in 2012 at the age of 32.

Gareth Southgate

A man in the spotlight right now, filling in for the departed Sam Allardyce as interim England manager, Southgate spent 5 years with Middlesbrough at the end of his career. He captained every club he played for, and Boro were no exception, also winning the teams player of the year award in 2002. Southgate went on to manage Middlesbrough, although he couldn’t prevent them from being relegated from the Premier League.

Franck Quedrue

Former Lens trainee Franck Quedrue was a Middlesbrough player between 2002 and 2006, starring in a successful period for the club. The left-back most recently played for Red Star of Ligue 2 in the 2012/13 season, so it is probably for to say the 38-year-old has now retired from professional football.

James Morrison

West Bromwich Albion’s James Morrison

A product of the Middlesbrough youth academy, James Morrison was just 20 when he took to the field in the 2006 UEFA Cup final. Now aged 30, Morrison has become a fan favourite at West Bromwich Albion, where he has spent 9 years and made more than 250 appearances, the vast majority of those coming in the Premier League.

George Boateng

Dependable defensive midfielder George Boateng joined Middlesbrough after 3 seasons at Aston Villa. Having joined Boro despite interest from Liverpool, the Dutch international became a very important player at the base of Steve McClaren’s midfield. Boateng later played for Hull City, Skoda Xanthi, Nottingham Forest and T-Team; he now works as technical director for Malaysian Super League outfit Kelantan FA.

Fabio Rochemback

Former Brazilian international Fabio Rochemback joined Middlesbrough having been a flop at Barcelona. He was anything but at the Riverside though, and quickly emerged as a fan favourite with his combination of flair and versatility. Now aged 34, Rochemback has been without a club since 2014.

Stewart Downing

The only player from Middlesbrough’s UEFA Cup final starting XI still at the club is Stewart Downing. Having impressed for Boro, Downing made a big money move to Aston Villa, followed by spells at Liverpool and West Ham, as well as winning 35 caps for England. Downing rejoined Middlesbrough last summer, helping his boyhood club to win promotion to the Premier League.

Mark Viduka

Mark Viduka in action against Real Madrid

Always a prolific goal scorer in the Premier League, Mark Viduka is one of the finest footballers Australia has ever produced, and he starred for Middlesbrough for 3 years, between 2004 and 2007. Since hanging up his boots in 2009, Viduka has returned to his hometown of Melbourne, where he is raising his children, and claims he may make the move into coaching but not whilst they are young.

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has had an eventful first few years in management, already in charge of his third club, the former Holland international has managed Royal Antwerp, Burton and now QPR. Having excelled with minnows Burton, Hasselbaink was recently as the centre of the Daily Telegraph’s sting operation, but appears to have emerged from it unscathed. As a player, Hasselbaink spent 2 seasons at Boro, scoring 34 goals.