HOT ON the heels of the recent visit from Manchester United, the Algarve is hosting Middlesbrough Football Club for a seven-day training camp at Browns in Vilamoura this week. The team is expected to stay in the Algarve until July 12.
Middlesbrough Captain, Gareth Southgate, is a fan of the Algarve and known to own a holiday home in nearby Quinta do Lago. It, therefore, seems that he might be the person behind the choice of the Algarve for his team’s pre-season training this year.
Other high profile members of the Middlesbrough team include ex Chelsea player,
Dutch international, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (striker), Australian international and ex Leeds player, Mark Viduka (striker), and Ray Parlour, the ex Arsenal midfielder.
The club finished seventh in the English premiership last season and the training visit is seen as vital in preparing the team for a greater domestic result and success in the UEFA Cup.
Few details have been made available about the visit, and the Middlesbrough FC press office has confirmed that the camp will be closed to the media. However, there is good news for fans of the club, because the team will be back in the Algarve on July 29 for a pre-season friendly against Sporting Lisbon in Portimão.
The winner of that match will go on to play either Vitória Setúbal or Real Betis at the Algarve Stadium, on July 30, at 9.15pm. The two losing sides in the mini-tournament will play each other on the same night at 7pm.
