Ex-Aston Villa and Rangers defender reveals why he didn't join Tottenham team-mates at Middlesbrough

Former Aston Villa and Rangers defender Alan Hutton says he came close to signing for Middlesbrough in the summer.

By Joe Nicholson

Published 19th Feb 2020, 16:45 BST

Updated 19th Feb 2020, 16:45 BST

Defender Alan Hutton helped Aston Villa win promotion to the Premier League last season.

The 35-year-old full-back, who announced his retirement on Wednesday, was a free agent after leaving Villa at the end of last season.

Boro head coach Jonathan Woodgate and assistant Robbie Keane were team-mates with Hutton at Tottenham and wanted the player to join the Teessiders.

Yet Hutton decided against the move due to family reasons, saying a short-term deal wouldn’t have worked.

“It was close,” Hutton told the Jim White radio show on Talksport. “On one side I felt bad because I knew Woodgate and Keane they were desperate for me to go there.

“But leaving the family for the sake of one year in the Championship you’re constantly playing and you’re away for the full week.

“Is it worth it? When I weighed it all up, it wasn’t.”