Emanuel Pogatetz

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Emanuel Pogatetz
Personal information
Full name	Emanuel Pogatetz
Date of birth	January 16, 1983 (1983-01-16) (age 25)
Place of birth	Graz, Austria
Height	6 ft 2.5 in (1.89 m)
Playing position	Left back, Centre back
Senior clubs1
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
2000–2001 2001–2002 2002–2005 2002–2003 2003–2004 2005 2005–	FC Kärnten Bayer Leverkusen II Bayer Leverkusen → FC Aarau (loan) → Grazer AK (loan) → Spartak Moscow (loan) Middlesbrough	33 (0) 26 (0) 00 (0) 21 (3) 53 (2) 11 (0) 83 (3)
National team
2002–	Austria	25 (1)
1 Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 21:49, 28 May 2008 (UTC). * Appearances (Goals)

Emanuel Pogatetz (born January 16, 1983 in Graz, Austria) is an Austrian football player who currently plays for Middlesbrough as a defender.

Contents 1 Football career 2 Honours 2.1 With FC Kärnten 2.2 With Grazer AK 3 External links

[edit] Football career

His career started at SK Sturm Graz, before going to FC Kärnten and later to Bayer Leverkusen. After a short loan spell at FC Aarau, Grazer AK and Spartak Moscow, he attempted to sign for Middlesbrough.

He had also been tracked by Fulham, but during his final game on loan at Spartak Moscow, he tackled Yaroslav Kharitonskiy, leaving the Russian with a double leg fracture. He was banned for twenty-four weeks by the Russian Football Association.

Pogatetz is a regular Austrian international, having played twenty-five times, and scored one goal. As a left-back, he was bought by Middlesbrough so as to compete with Franck Queudrue for a starting place in league games. Pogatetz is also aptly comfortable at centre back having commanded this position at both club and international level.

Pogatetz broke his nose, jaw and cheekbone in an accidental clash of heads with Basel's Mladen Petric during the first leg of Boro's UEFA Cup quarter-final. Pogatetz was warned against returning to full training for three months for fear of risking his eyesight. He underwent successful surgery to have the fractures reset. Dr. Douglas Bryan declared himself "delighted" ^[1] with the Austrian's progress.

Pogatetz was ordered to take no physical exercise for a month and to stay away from full football training for three months as of April 12, 2006. "It is anticipated he will make a full recovery and be back with his team-mates for pre-season training," said Boro's head physio Grant Downie. "The only disappointing thing for Manny is he won't be able to play football, and he was desperate to get back involved." Downie added "But another blow to his face would risk severe trauma and a potentially eyesight-threatening injury."^[1].

Emanuel suffered from a hernia, for which he received corrective surgery in Munich on April 24, 2006.

Pogatetz is known as "The Pog" by some of the Riverside Stadium faithful. Due to the Austrian's 110% commitment and notorious 'nutcase/hardman' image, Pogatetz is also commonly referred to by fans and team mates alike as "Mad Dog". Another amusing nickname that he has acquired is "Emanuel Smogatetz", which cleverly combines his real name with one of the nicknames of his club: "The Smoggies".

On the 4th of July 2006, Emanuel returned to training following successful surgery on his hernia and cheek.

In September 2006, Pogatetz was banned from playing for his country after he criticised the coach Josef Hickersberger and captain Andreas Ivanschitz after Austria drew with Costa Rica and lost to Venezuela in an international tournament played earlier in the month.

In the 2006-07 season, Pogatetz was forced into the centre of defence, due to an injury to Chris Riggott. He has since formed impressive partnerships at the back with both Robert Huth and Jonathan Woodgate. Pogatetz is expected by Boro fans to keep his place, even upon the returns of Woodgate and Riggott.

Pogatetz is a firm fan favourite with the Middlesbrough faithful; many would agree, although he is not the best technical player, he plays with all his heart and impresses doing so. Former England and Middlesbrough coach Steve McClaren recently stated "He never, ever, gives less than 300% in performance".

He has recently won the Middlesbrough player of the year award, voted for by the fans. The fans have even started a unique chant of "Poggy Poggy Poggy, Oi Oi Oi!".

At the close of the 2007/08 season it was announced by Boro boss, Gareth Southgate, that Emanuel was to be given the captain's armband on a full-time basis following his taking up of the role towards the end of the season.

[edit] Honours

[edit] With FC Kärnten

• Austrian Cup: 2001

[edit] With Grazer AK

• Austrian League: 2004
• Austrian Cup: 2004

[edit] External links

• Emmanuel Pogatetz own web site
• Emanuel Pogatetz career stats at Soccerbase
• Leverkusen who's who

v • d • e Austria squad - UEFA Euro 2008 1 Manninger • 2 Standfest • 3 Stranzl • 4 Pogatetz • 5 Fuchs • 6 Aufhauser • 7 Vastić • 8 Leitgeb • 9 Linz • 10 Ivanschitz • 11 Korkmaz • 12 Gërçaliu • 13 Katzer • 14 Garics • 15 Prödl • 16 Patocka • 17 Hiden • 18 Kienast • 19 Säumel • 20 Harnik • 21 Macho • 22 Hoffer • 23 Özcan • Coach: Hickersberger

v • d • e Middlesbrough F.C. – current squad 2 Young • 3 Arca • 4 O'Neil • 5 Riggott • 6 Pogatetz • 7 Boateng • 9 Mido • 11 Aliadière • 12 Afonso Alves • 14 Huth • 15 Shawky • 17 Tuncay • 19 Downing • 21 Turnbull • 22 Jones • 26 Bates • 27 Cattermole • 28 Johnson • 29 McMahon • 31 Wheater • 32 Steele • 33 Taylor • 35 Owens • 38 Hines • 40 Grounds • 41 Walker • 42 Craddock • Manager: Southgate