Looking back: The Socceroos who have played for Middlesbrough

By signing for Middlesbrough FC in the English Championship, Riley McGree reignites a long relationship between Socceroos players and Boro. 

McGree joins the club on a three-and-a-half-year deal from MLS expansion club Charlotte FC.

The Socceroo most recently played for Championship opposition side Birmingham City, where he was on loan from Charlotte. 

Middlesbrough currently sit one point shy of the promotion play-off places and McGree could be integral to their Premier League promotion push. 

McGree becomes the tenth Socceroo to sign for Middlesbrough and the first since 2010. Here are the nine others who have represented the North Yorkshire club.

Scott McDonald

The last Socceroo to sign for Middlesbrough was Scott McDonald. 

After three years with Celtic and netting an impressive 51 goals, McDonald joined Middlesbrough in 2010.

The striker went on to play 124 games for Boro and score 39 goals over three years. 

McDonald was also Boro’s top scorer in his three full seasons as he helped the club solidify their Championship status. 

Rhys Williams

While McDonald was the last Socceroo to sign for Middlesbrough, Rhys Williams was the last Socceroo to play for the club in 2016. 

The former Boro captain spent 11-and-a-half years with the club after joining the youth setup as a 16-year-old. 

Williams broke into Middlesbrough's first team at the start of the 2008/09 season, the year Boro were relegated from the Premier League under Garreth Southgate.

While his time at the club was hampered with injuries, Williams went on to make 141 appearances for the club before returning to Australia to join Perth Glory in the A-League for the 2016–17 season.

Rhys Williams named Boro captain
Rhys Williams played for Middlesbrough for over 11 years.

Mark Viduka

Signed from Leeds United in the summer of 2004, Mark Viduka was a key member of a Middlesbrough team that finished seventh in the Premier League to qualify for Europe and reach a UEFA Cup final.

Viduka made 99 appearances and scored 41 goals for Middlesbrough during his three-year stay with the North Yorkshire club.

To this day, Viduka remains a fan favourite and he still holds the record for scoring the most goals for Boro at the Riverside Stadium. 

Tony Vidmar

After playing over 150 games and winning the Scottish Premier League twice with Rangers, Tony Vidmar joined Middlesbrough in 2002. 

Boro had started the season in disappointing fashion and the club had identified Vidmar as the man to fill the gaps at the back.

Vidmar slotted into Steve McClaren’s matchday squad and put in some solid performances at the back before moving to Cardiff City at the end of the season. 

Paul Okon

After three years with Lazio in Serie A in Italy and one with Fiorentina, Paul Okon joined Middlesbrough in 2000. 

Okon played in every game of Boro’s 2000/01 relegation battle as Terry Venables steered the side to 14th to avoid the drop by a comfortable margin.

After 30 appearances with the club, Okon left Middlesbrough in 2002 on loan to Watford before reuniting with Venables at Leeds.

Brad Jones

Brad Jones joined Middlesbrough's youth system as an 18-year-old and spent a total of nine seasons with the club.

He made his first-team debut in the FA Cup third round against Notts County in 2004 and later that season won a League Cup winners medal.

After 73 appearances with the club, Jones signed for Liverpool. 

Luke Wilkshire

Another former Socceroo who started their overseas career at Middlesbrough was Luke Wilkshire. 

The 80-time Socceroo joined Middlesbrough's youth system as a 17-year-old and spent five years with Boro. 

He made his professional debut in 2002 and went on to make 24 appearances for the club before joining Bristol City in search of regular first-team minutes.

 Mark Schwarzer

After beginning his European career in Germany and with Bradford City, Mark Schwarzer signed with Middlesbrough in 1997. 

It was with Boro that he began his tremendous Premier League career. Schwarzer spent 12 seasons at Middlesbrough where he won the League Cup in 2004 and amassed 397 appearances for the club. 

His time at Middlesbrough also contributed to Schwarzer becoming the first, and still the only, non-British player to make more than 500 Premier League appearances.

Peter Wilson

Peter Wilson was the first Socceroo to play for Middlesbrough. 

While the defender only made one appearance for Boro, it is his achievements with the Australian national team that are fondly remembered. 

Born in Felling, England in 1947, Wilson migrated to Australia in 1969 after failing to break into the first team for English club Middlesbrough. 

Between 1970–79, he made a then-record 116 appearances for the national team, and captained Australia at their first World Cup back in 1974.