Lee Barry Cattermole (born 21 March 1988) is an English former professional footballer who played as a central midfielder. An England youth product, Cattermole has earned a reputation as a tough-tackling midfielder due to his lengthy disciplinary record. He began his professional career at Middlesbrough in 2005, having progressed through the club's academy. After making his debut for the club in January 2006, he became a regular player, and at the age of 18 years and 47 days was the youngest man to captain Middlesbrough where he made 91 appearances and scored four goals. He switched to Wigan Athletic in July 2008. Cattermole quickly became a regular for Wigan, amassing 35 appearances in the 2008–09 season. After attracting interest from other Premier League clubs, he joined Sunderland in August 2009. Despite a few injury problems early in his spell at the club, manager Steve Bruce selected him as captain for the start of the 2010–11 season, a role he would hold for three seasons, until Paolo di Canio gave John O'Shea the role prior to the start of the 2013–14 season. Internationally, Cattermole represented England at under-16, under-17, under-18, under-19 and under-21 levels. Club career Middlesbrough A product of the Middlesbrough youth academy, Cattermole made his debut in the Tyne-Tees derby against Newcastle United on 2 January 2006, playing the full 90 minutes in a match that finished 2–2 in which the England youth international received the Man of the Match award. Manager Steve McClaren later hailed his performance stating, "When we needed people to stand up and be counted, it took a 17-year-old to bring everyone together." After a 4–0 home defeat to Aston Villa, he was captured on camera in tears and had to be consoled by captain Gareth Southgate. However, after this game the team went on to win seven out of their next eight games, advancing to the quarter-finals of both the FA and UEFA cups and defeating Premier League champions Chelsea 3–0, only their second league defeat of the season. Cattermole scored his first league goal for Middlesbrough on 2 April, in a 1–0 victory away at Manchester City, and played for Middlesbrough in the 2006 UEFA Cup Final. Cattermole became Middlesbrough's youngest-ever captain aged 18 years and 47 days when he skippered the side in their 1–0 defeat away against Fulham on 7 May 2006. During the game, Middlesbrough's oldest-ever player, Colin Cooper, came