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List of Middlesbrough F.C. players

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This is a list of notable footballers who have played for Middlesbrough. Generally, this means players that have played 100 or more first-class matches for the club, or been an officially designated captain.

Players are listed according to the date of their first-team debut for the club. Appearances are for first-team competitive matches only; wartime matches are excluded. Substitute appearances included. Names in bold are currently active at the club. Statistics correct as of 10 August 2024

Notable players

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  Middlesbrough Legend (as voted for by fans in the Evening Gazette in 2007)
  Club captains who have won a major senior competition (competitions noted in notes section)
  Club record holder
  Played their full career at Middlesbrough (professional teams only, including loans)
(n/a) = Information not available

Name Nationality Position[1] Boro career Captaincy Appearances Goals Notes
Peter McCracken  Scotland Left-half
Left-back
1899–1900 1899–1900 34 0 [2]
Andrew Ramsey  Scotland Left-back 1899–1904 136 1
William Higgins  England Centre-half 1900–1901 1900–1901 29 4
David Smith  Scotland Right-half 1900–1905 1901–1903 114 12
Andy Davidson  Scotland Left-half
Centre-half
1900–1906 201 8
Joseph Cassidy  Scotland Inside-left
Centre-forward
1901–1906 135 34
Abraham Jones  England Centre-half 1901–1906 149 9
George Friend  England Left-back 2012– 100 3
Tim Williamson  England Goalkeeper 1901–1923 19??–1914 602 2 [3]
John Hogg  Scotland Right-back 1902–1906 100 0
Sam Aitken  Scotland Right-half
Centre-half
1903–1910 1907–19?? 242 6
Alf Common  England Forward 1905–1910 1905–1907 178 65 [4]
Steve Bloomer  England Inside-right 1905–1910 130 62
Billy Barker  England Wing-half 1905–1913 113 2
Sammy Cail  England Inside-left
Centre-forward
1906–1913 143 55
Donald McLeod  Scotland Right-back 1908–1913 148 0
George Elliott  England Centre-forward
Inside-forward
1909–1925 1913–1921 365 213 [5]
Andy Jackson  Scotland Centre-half 1910–1915 1914–1915 137 3
William Carr  England Centre-half 1910–1924 118 4
Jacky Carr  England Inside-forward
Outside-right
1910–1930 449 81
John Stirling  Scotland Outside-right 1911–1914 112 8
George Malcolm  England Right-half 1912–1915 101 1
Stewart Davidson  Scotland Right-half 1913–1923 216 4
Walter Holmes  England Full-back 1914–1928 174 1
Jack Marshall  Scotland Right-back 1919–1923 121 0
Robert Pender  Scotland Left-half
Inside-left
1919–1924 110 10
William Ellerginton  England Centre-half
Left-half
1919–1924 131 0
William Victor Fox  England Full-back
Left-half
1919–1924 112 1
Billy Birrell  Scotland Inside-right
Outside-right
1920–1927 1926–1927 235 63 [6]
Jack Clough  England Goalkeeper 1922–1926 128 0
Reg Freeman  England Full-back 1923–1930 1924–1926 187 0
Robert Furguson  Scotland Centre-half
Right-back
1924–1931 159 2
Donald Ashman  England Full-back
Half-back
1924–1932 174 2
George Camsell  England Centre-forward 1925–1939 453 345 [7][8]
Joseph Miller  Ireland Right-half 1926–1930 153 0
John Smith  Scotland Full-back 1926–1930 123 0
Billy Pease  England Outside-right 1926–1933 238 102
James Mathieson  Scotland Goalkeeper 1926–1934 264 0
John Reid McKay  Scotland Inside-forward 1926–1934 109 20
Joseph Peacock  England Wing-half 1927–1930 1929–1930 85 4
Bobbie Bruce  Scotland Inside-forward 1927–1935 253 71 [4]
Jack Elkes  England Inside-left
Centre-half
1929–1933 113 4
John McFarlane  Scotland Wing-half
Inside-forward
1929–1933 101 0
John Jennings  England Full-back
Right-half
1929–1937 1930–1932 205 10
Bill Forrest  Scotland Left-half 1929–1939 333 8
William Brown  England Right-half
Right-back
1931–1946 274 2
Tom Griffiths  Wales Centre-half
Right-back
1932–1935 1932–1935 92 1 [4]
Frederick Gibson  England Goalkeeper 1932–1936 120 0
Bobby Baxter  Scotland Centre-half
Inside-left
1932–1939 193?–193? 266 20
John Martin  England Wing-half 1932–1939 137 3
Micky Fenton  England Centre-forward 1932–1950 269 162
Ralph Birkett  England Outside-right 1934–1938 101 36 [4]
David Cumming  Scotland Goalkeeper 1936–1949 157 0
Wilf Mannion  England Inside-forward 1936–1954 368 110 [9]
George Hardwick  England Full-back 1937–1950 19??–19?? 166 7
Johnny Spuhler  England Centre-forward 1945–1954 241 81
Jimmy Gordon  Scotland Wing-half 1946–1954 1951–1952 253 4
Henry Bell  England Wing-half 1946–1955 315 10
Richard (Dickie) Robinson  England Full-back 1946–1959 416 1
Ronald Dicks  England Wing-half 1947–1958 1956–1958 334 10
Tommy Blenkinsopp  England Defender 1948–1952 100 0
Alex McCrae  Scotland Defender 1948–1953 130 49
Lindy Delapenha  Jamaica Forward 1949–1958 270 93 [10]
Arthur Fitzsimons  Republic of Ireland Inside-forward 1949–1959 231 51
Raymond Barnard  England Full-back 1951–1961 118 0
Ray Bilcliff  England Full-back 1951–1961 190 0 [11]
John Brian Phillips  England Centre-half 1954–1960 124 2
Alan Peacock  England Centre-forward 1954–1964 238 141
Bill Harris  Wales Inside-forward
Wing-half
1954–1965 19??–19?? 378 72 [4][12]
Brian Clough  England Centre-forward 1955–1961 19??–19?? 222 204 [8]
Derek McLean  England Inside-forward 1952–1961 123 30
Billy Day  England Outside-right 1955–1962 131 21
Edwin Holliday  England Outside-left 1956–1962
1965-1966
169 25
Ronald Burbeck  England Winger 1956–1963 152 29
Michael McNeil  England Left-back 1958–1964 193 3
Bob Appleby  England Goalkeeper 1959–1967 110 0
Arthur Kaye  England Outside-right 1960–1965 185 44
Billy Horner  England Defender 1960–1969 217 12
Gordon Jones  England Full-back 1960–1973 1966–1973[13] 532 5 [14][15]
Alex Smith  England Defender 1961–1972 137 1
William Lazenby Gates  England Centre-half 1961–1974 333 13
Mel Nurse  Wales Centre-half 1962–1965 1962–1965 124 9 [4]
Ian Gibson  Scotland Midfield 1962–1966 1965–1966 184 47 [4]
Bryan Orritt  Wales Inside-forward 1962–1966 128 23 [16]
Frank Spraggon  England Defender 1962–1975 331 3
Edward Connachan  Scotland Goalkeeper 1963–1966 105 0
Arthur Horsfield  England Forward 1963–1969 127 56 [17]
Jim Irvine  Scotland Centre-forward 1964–1967 100 43
Stan Anderson  England Wing-half 1965–1966 196?–196? 22 2
Richard Rooks  England Centre-half 1965–1969 150 14 [18]
Derrick Downing  England Winger 1965–1972 204 49
Eric McMordie  Northern Ireland Midfield 1965–1974 277 26 [19]
David Chadwick  India Winger 1966–1970 115 4
John Hickton  England Forward
Utility
1966–1977 499 187 [20]
Joe Laidlaw  England Midfield
Forward
1967–1972 128 23
Willie Maddren  England Central defender 1969–1978 354 21 [21]
David Mills  England Forward 1968–1979
1984–1985
398 111 [22]
David Armstrong  England Midfielder 1970–1981 431 77 [23]
Jim Platt  Northern Ireland Goalkeeper 1970–1982 ????–???? 481 0 [24]
Nobby Stiles  England Wing-half 1971–1973 1971–197? 69 2
Stuart Boam  England Central defender 1971–1979 393 16
John Craggs  England Right-back 1971–1982 1981 488 14 [4]
Alan Foggon  England Winger 1972–1976 141 50
Peter Brine  England Midfielder 1972–1977 101 8
Bobby Murdoch  Scotland Midfield 1973–1976 125 9
Graeme Souness  Scotland Midfield 1973–1978 216 27 [25]
Tony McAndrew  Scotland Central defender 1973–1982 1979–1981 358 18
Terry Cooper  England Left-back 1974–1978 133 1
Ian Bailey  England Left-back 1975–1982 175 3
Billy Ashcroft  England Forward 1977–1982 179 25 [4]
Mark Proctor  England Midfield 1978–1981
1989–1993
273 20
David Hodgson  England Forward 1978–1982
1987
143 20
Terry Cochrane  Northern Ireland Winger 1978–1983 128 12 [4]
David Shearer  England Forward 1978–1983 115 30
Irving Nattrass  England Right-back 1979–1986 1983–1985 221 2 [4]
Mick Baxter  England Central defender 1981–1984 138 8
Heine Otto  Netherlands Midfield 1981–1985 187 28
David Currie  England Forward 1982–1986 127 31
Tony Mowbray  England Central defender 1982–1991 1987–1991 425 29 [26]
Stephen Pears  England Goalkeeper 1983
1985–1995
424 0 [27]
Gary Hamilton  Scotland Midfield 1983–1989 268 28
Gary Pallister  England Central defender 1984–1989
1998–2000
250 7 [28]
Colin Cooper  England Defender 1984–1991
1998–2006
423 14
Archie Stephens  England Forward 1985–1987 107 27
Brian Laws  England Right-back 1985–1988 1985–1986 129 14
Stuart Ripley  England Right-winger 1985–1992 311 31
Alan Kernaghan  Republic of Ireland Central defender 1985–1993 1991–1993 268 22 [29]
Bernie Slaven  Republic of Ireland Forward 1985–1993 381 146 [30]
Gary Parkinson  England Right-back 1986–1993 258 7
Paul Kerr  England Midfield 1987–1991 162 18
Nicky Mohan  England Central defender 1987–1994 131 4
Peter Davenport  England Forward 1988–1990 28 5 [4]
Jimmy Phillips  England Left-back 1990–1993 172 6
John Hendrie  Scotland Winger
Forward
1990–1996 1993–1994 234 55 [31]
Robbie Mustoe  England Midfield 1990–2002 367 34
Andy Peake  England Midfield 1991–1994 100 1 [32]
Jamie Pollock  England Midfield 1991–1996 193 19 [33]
Curtis Fleming  Republic of Ireland Defender 1991–2001 317 4 [34]
Alan Moore  Republic of Ireland Left-winger 1991–2001 142 17
Craig Hignett  England Winger 1992–1997 195 48
Chris Morris  Republic of Ireland Full-back 1992–1997 104 4
Phil Stamp  England Midfield 1993–2001 154 8
Neil Cox  England Defender 1994–1996 120 4 [4]
Bryan Robson  England Midfield 1994–1997 27 1 [35]
Nigel Pearson  England Central defender 1994–1998 1994–1998 139 5 [36]
Juninho Paulista  Brazil Midfield 1995–1997
1999
2002–2004
155 34 [37]
Fabrizio Ravanelli  Italy Forward 1996–1997 50 32 [4]
Mikkel Beck  Denmark Striker 1996–1998 115 31
Andy Townsend  Republic of Ireland Midfield 1997–1999 1998–1999 88 4
Gianluca Festa  Italy Central defender 1997–2002 171 12 [38]
Mark Schwarzer  Australia Goalkeeper 1997–2008 446 0 [39]
Hamilton Ricard  Colombia Forward 1998–2002 134 43
Paul Ince  England Midfield 1999–2002 1999–2002 106 9
Joseph-Désiré Job  Cameroon Forward 2000–2006 111 21
Stuart Parnaby  England Defender/Midfield 2000–2007 128 4
Ugo Ehiogu  England Defender 2000–2007 150 8 [4]
Jonathan Greening  England Midfield 2001–2004 109 4 [40]
Szilárd Németh  Slovakia Forward 2001–2006 146 29
Franck Queudrue  France Left-back 2001–2006 199 12 [41]
Gareth Southgate  England Defender 2001–2006 2002–2006 204 4 [42]
Stewart Downing  England Midfield 2001–2009; 2015–2019 404 32 [43]
George Boateng  Netherlands Midfield 2002–2008 2006–2008 222 9
Massimo Maccarone  Italy Forward 2002–2007 102 24 [4]
Doriva  Brazil Midfield 2003–2006 110 1
Chris Riggott  England Defender 2003–2009 121 8 [44]
Matthew Bates  England Defender 2004–2012 2010–2012 126 6
David Wheater  England Defender 2004–2011 157 11
Emanuel Pogatetz  Austria Defender 2005–2010 2008–2010 112 3 [45]
Julio Arca  Argentina Midfield 2006–2013 181 9
Jonathan Woodgate  England Defender 2006–2008; 2012–2016 2014–2015 112 2
Gary O'Neil  England Midfielder 2007–2011 120 12
Marvin Emnes  Netherlands Forward 2008–2014 161 41
Justin Hoyte  Trinidad and Tobago Defender 2008–2013 162 2
Rhys Williams  Australia Defender/Midfield 2009–2016 2012–2014 141 5
Barry Robson  Scotland Midfielder 2010–2012 90 19 [46]
Scott McDonald  Australia Forward 2010–2013 124 49
Ben Gibson  England Defender 2010–2018 204 4
Grant Leadbitter  England Midfield 2012–2019 2015–2019 244 33
George Friend  England Defender 2012–2020 2019–2020 299 10 [47]
Albert Adomah  Ghana Midfield 2013–2016 143 26
Dimitrios Konstantopoulos  Greece Goalkeeper 2013–2019 112 0
Daniel Ayala  Spain Defender 2013–2020 216 23
Adam Clayton  England Midfield 2014–2020 241 1
Dael Fry  England Defender 2015– 241 2 -
Adama Traore  Spain Midfield 2016–2018 71 5 [48]
Britt Assombalonga  DR Congo Forward 2017–2021 2020–2021 161 47 [49]
Jonny Howson  England Midfield 2017– 2021– 320 9 [50]
Marcus Tavernier  England Midfield 2017–2021 155 18
Paddy McNair  Northern Ireland Defender 2018–2024 219 14
George Saville  England Midfield 2018–2021 118 12
Anfernee Dijksteel  Suriname Defender 2019– 131 0
Matt Crooks  England Midfielder 2021–2024 115 23
Isaiah Jones  England Forward 2021– 127 13


Key to positions

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See also

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Notes and references

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  • Middlesbrough FC. The Who's Who of Middlesbrough. Breedon Books. ISBN 978-1-85983-569-2.
  • E End of contract
  • A Initial fee £2.5 million, rising to just over £5 million based on appearances.[51]
  • Glasper, Harry. Middlesbrough, A Complete Record, 1876-1989. Breedon Books Sport. ISBN 0-907969-53-4.
  • "Squad Profiles". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 August 2007.
  • "Soccerbase". Soccerbase. Retrieved 17 September 2007.
  1. ^ For a full description of positions see Football Positions.
  2. ^ Peter McCracken was the first player to captain Middlesbrough in the Football League.
  3. ^ Tim Williamson is the all time appearance record holder.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Was record signing at the time of his purchase.
  5. ^ George Elliott is second in the all time goalscoring tables with 213. Elliott also holds the record for most goals scored in a competitive Middlesbrough game, scoring eleven in a 14–1 reserve team victory over Houghton Rovers. He was the first Middlesbrough player to be top goalscorer in the Football League, during the 1913-14 season.
  6. ^ Billy Birrell won the Football League Second Division as captain.
  7. ^ George Camsell is Middlesbrough's all-time top goalscorer with 345 goals. Camsell also holds the Middlesbrough record for most goals in the season, with 59 league goals and 63 in all competitions during 1926-27. 59 league goals in one season is a Second Division record. His nine hat-tricks that season is an English football record, and his 24 hat-tricks during his time at Middlesbrough is a club record.
  8. ^ a b Joint holder of Middlesbrough record for most goals in a single competitive first team game, with five goals. J.Wilkie, A.N.Wilson, J.McClelland and B.H.Clough each achieved this feat once, while G.H.Camsell achieved it in two games.
  9. ^ Wilf Mannion is Middlesbrough's most capped England player.
  10. ^ Lindy Delapenha was Middlesbrough's first black player.
  11. ^ Raymond Bilcliff made more appearances than any other outfield player without scoring a goal.
  12. ^ Bill Harris is the holder of the Middlesbrough record for fastest recorded goal, with a goal 11 seconds into an FA Cup tie with Shrewsbury.
  13. ^ FIX ME:May be to 1971,72,73.
  14. ^ Gordon Jones is second in the all-time Middlesbrough appearance records.
  15. ^ Player of the year 1965–66 and 1971.
  16. ^ Bryan Orritt was the first substitute ever used by Middlesbrough.
  17. ^ Arthur Horsfield is the club's youngest senior goalscorer.
  18. ^ Player of the year 1967–68, 1968–69.
  19. ^ Evening Gazette player of the year 1969.
  20. ^ John Hickton is third in the all-time Middlesbrough appearance records.
  21. ^ Player of the year 1972–1973.
  22. ^ David Mills' sale to West Bromwich Albion was a British football record transfer fee at the time, with a fee of approximately £500,000.
  23. ^ David Armstrong holds the record for most consecutive appearances with 305 consecutive league games and 358 consecutive games in all competitions between March 1972 and August 1980.
  24. ^ Player of the year 1972, 1981. North East Player of the Year 1981.
  25. ^ Player of the year 1973–74.
  26. ^ Player of the year 1985, 1986.
  27. ^ North East Player of the Year 1992.
  28. ^ Gary Pallister's sale to Manchester United was a British football record transfer fee at the time, with a fee of £2.3 million.
  29. ^ Alan Kernaghan holds the record for most substitute appearances for Middlesbrough, with 53.
  30. ^ North East Player of the Year 1989.
  31. ^ Supporters' club player of the year 1992–93.
  32. ^ Players' Player of the Year 1992–93.
  33. ^ Young player of the year 1991–92.
  34. ^ Supporters' club player of the year 1993–94.
  35. ^ Bryan Robson is Middlesbrough's oldest-ever goalscorer, aged 38 years and 2 months old, with his goal versus Port Vale on 26 March 1995. Robson is also the oldest player to appear for Middlesbrough, aged 38 years and 355 days old with his appearances versus Arsenal on 1 January 1997.
  36. ^ Nigel Pearson won the Football League Division One as captain.
  37. ^ Supporters' club player of the year 1996–97.
  38. ^ Supporters' club player of the year 1998.
  39. ^ Mark Schwarzer holds the record for earning the most international caps while a Middlesbrough player.
  40. ^ Supporters' club player of the year 2002–03.
  41. ^ Community player of the year 2003–04.
  42. ^ Gareth Southgate won the Football League Cup as captain. Player of the year 2001–02.
  43. ^ Supporters' club player of the year 2007–08. Players' Player of the Year 2007–08.
  44. ^ Players' Player of the Year 2005–06.
  45. ^ Supporters' club player of the year 2006–07. Players' Player of the Year 2006–07.
  46. ^ Supporters' player of the year for 2009-10 and 2011-12
  47. ^ Supporters' club player of the year for 2013-14 and 2014-15
  48. ^ Adama Traore holds the record for Middlesbrough's highest transfer fee received, at £18 million in 2018.
  49. ^ Britt Assombalonga is Middlesbrough's record signing. The club paid a fee of approximately £15 million for him in 2017.
  50. ^ Current club captain, Supporters' player of the year 2019-20 and 2021-22. Players' player of the year 2023-24
  51. ^ "Pompey will have to wait for half of O'Neil's fee". Portsmouth News. 5 September 2007. Retrieved 7 September 2007.