a free transfer. Signing a short-term contract until the summer, he played a total of 10 games and scoring one goal against Derby County. Matteo still continued to play for Stoke during the club's 2007–08 pre-season campaign, despite being out of contract. However, he was offered a new 12-month contract by the club on 10 August 2007. He was made captain by Tony Pulis in the season Stoke won promotion back to the top flight of the English football league system. Matteo played 13 league games up to the end of October after which he played only once more before the end of the season, a game in November 2007. This was the last game of his playing career due to injury. International career Matteo won Under-21 and 'B' caps for England, and was also called up for the main squad on two occasions but was never capped. He later was called up for the Scotland side, having been born and lived as a young boy in Dumfries. He went on to collect six caps for Scotland, making his debut against Australia in November 2000. After injury problems, he retired from international duty to concentrate on his career at Leeds United. Personal life While at Stoke Matteo progressed studying for his UEFA coaching qualifications. In his autobiography and interviews associated with its launch, Matteo admitted having run up over £1,000,000 in gambling debts. He recalled betting £200,000 on a single horse race, although that bet won. Matteo was declared bankrupt in 2015. His book also repeatedly referenced Matteo being involved in a culture of heavy drinking. In May 2013, Matteo returned to Leeds United in a new role as a Football Ambassador. He left this position in the summer of 2014 following a change of ownership to Massimo Cellino. In November 2019, Matteo underwent surgery on a brain tumour, and was declared fully recovered in April the following year. Career statistics See also List of sportspeople who competed for more than one nation References General Specific 1974 births Living people Footballers from Dumfries English people of Italian descent Scottish footballers England under-21 international footballers England B international footballers Scotland international footballers Association football fullbacks Association football midfielders Liverpool F.C. players Sunderland A.F.C. players Leeds United F.C. players Blackburn Rovers F.C. players Stoke City F.C. players Premier League players English Football League players Scottish autobiographers Anglo-Scots Leeds United F.C. non-playing staff