Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea youth debuts: Where are they now?
By George Perry
Michael Woods
Chelsea appearances: 2 (2006-2011)
Current club: Hartlepool United
Get ready, this is Game of Thrones-level incestuous (maybe not that bad).
Michael Woods arrived at Chelsea under scandalous circumstances, as former club chairman Ken Bates accused the Blues of tapping up two of his academy players at Leeds United. Bates alleged that Chelsea improperly contacted Woods, Tom Taiwo and Danny Rose. Woods and Taiwo chose to sign with Chelsea, while Rose stayed at Leeds United before moving to Tottenham Hotspur in 2007.
Bates discounted the role of personal animus in the dispute:
"[T]here is no personal vendetta between [the Chelsea chairman] Bruce Buck or Mr Abramovich and myself or Leeds or Chelsea. This is a straightforward dispute over the blatant breaching of Football League rules regarding to players which, of course, is consistent with other examples of Chelsea’s illegal approaches to players."
Bates was referring to the then-recent tapping up scandal that brought Ashley Cole over from Arsenal, as well as the John Obi Mikel scandal (go back a few slides in case you already forgot).
Michael Woods passed through a spell in non-league Harrogate Town, before signing a permanent contract with League Two Hartlepool United.
Next: Anthony Grant