Former Middlesbrough and Sunderland star Lee Cattermole backed to succeed at Gateshead

Former Sunderland and Middlesbrough midfielder Lee Cattermole has been told he must make the most of the ‘great apprenticeship’ he received working under several high-profile managers as he embarks on his own career in the dugout.

The 38-year-old was appointed as new manager of National League club Gateshead last week after narrowly missing out on being named as successor to Nicky Featherstone at Hartlepool United last month. Cattermole has never hidden from his desire to move into management after spending time coaching with Middlesbrough’s academy, the Northern Irish FA and Bristol Rovers in recent seasons and he has now been handed an opportunity by Heed interim chairman Graham Wood.

Cattermole worked under the likes of Dick Advocaat, Sam Allardyce, Gareth Southgate and Martin O’Neill during his playing career - and Wood believes he can benefit from the knowledge he received as he kickstarts his own managerial career.

He said: “Naturally, he will be (judged on results). I’ve seen managers come in with wonderful reputations and fail and just the opposite too. At this stage in time, I am confident. Lee has been around leaders during his career and that’s why I said he has had a great apprenticeship. He couldn’t have had a better one working with an England manager in Gareth Southgate and people like Martin O’Neill. He has picked up an awful lot and his reputation as a coach is pretty good as well. It’s just this one last step he’s got to take and the timing is definitely right from that perspective.”

‘Similar routes’

Much like Cattermole, two recent Gateshead managers have been handed their first opportunity in the dugout at the International Stadium and former Newcastle United duo Mike Williamson and Rob Elliot were able to deliver the National League North title and FA Trophy respectively. Wood is hopeful Cattermole can follow a similar path and backed his new manager to surpass the achievements of his predecessors.

“The most successful managers we have had of late, Mike Williamson and Rob Elliot, have both come along similar routes,” he explained. “They had experience of playing in the Premier League and if there’s a direct correlation between playing in the Premier League and management, then Lee has got to be better because he’s played more Premier League games than them both put together.”