BORO: DOWNING IN RECORD ENGLAND CAPS

Stewart Downing is undoubtedly a Middles brough legend having played for the club with distinction over two spells before he called time on his professional football career.

Downing was an England international during his first spell with Boro and the number of England caps he made as a Middlesbrough player will take some beaten. He holds the record for the most England caps as a Boro player in the modern era. Middlesbrough have struggled to have a representative in the Three Lions of England setup since Stewart Downing left the club at the end of his first spell.

Stewart Downing made 23 caps for the Three Lions of England as a Boro player and it’s a record at the club till date in the modern era. In total, Downing played 35 times for the 1966 World Cup winners. The other 12 England caps came while he was at Aston Villa and Liverpool.

The achievement of Stewart Downing is even more remarkable considering the fact that he learnt his trade in the Middlesbrough Academy before he made his first team debut for the club.

Current England manager Gareth Southgate is the closest to Stewart Downing in terms of caps made for the Three Lions. However, he didn’t come through the Boro Academy like what was obtainable with Downing. Southgate was a seasoned international before Middlesbrough signed him. As a Boro player, Southgate played 15 times for the Three Lions of England. Southgate has been saddled with the responsibility of delivering the first World Cup title for England in 48 years at this year’s World Cup tournament on Qatari soil. He led the team to fourth spot at the last World Cup in Russia four years ago. England have been drawn in a tricky group alongside the United States of America, Iran and Wales.