Written by Middlesbrough supporter Hallam Wheatley

This article is part of Football League World's 'Fan's Voice' series, where we gather original opinions from those closest to the clubs concerned on matters surrounding their team and share them with a wider audience...

Middlesbrough have had their fair share of ups and downs over the years, with the club previously competing in the Premier League and on the European stage. 

Boro are now playing their football in the Championship, and the club's supporters will be eager to see their side push towards a timely return into the Premier League under the management of Neil Warnock this term.

Football League World's Middlesbrough fan Hallam Wheatley outlined his TOP-TEN Middlesbrough players of all-time.

Find out who kicks off the list at number ten on the next page....

Disclaimer: The views cast from various supporters in the Fan's Voice series do not represent those of Football League World.

Starting the list at number ten, is fan favourite Massimo Maccarone.

Better strikers than him have missed out on this top ten list, and scoring only 24 goals in just under 100 appearances for the club, many neutrals will question this addition.

To Middlesbrough fans though, two last minute winners in the Uefa Cup against FC Basel, and Steaua Bucharest, in both the quarter final, and the semi-final respectively, will live long in the memory. For those two goals alone, and the fact, that a small town in the North East made it to a European final, he makes the top-ten.

At number nine, Stewart Downing. Born in Middlesbrough, and forged in the Middlesbrough academy, Downing’s second stint with the club may taint his memory with some Middlesbrough fans, but this can’t deflect away from the talent that Teessiders saw in the early 2000’s.

Breaking through in Middlesbrough’s first year in Europe, he was an ever present during Middlesbrough’s most successful years, whilst getting 35 caps for England.

Moving on after relegation to Aston Villa proved another successful step in his career, before securing a £20million move to Liverpool in 2011. A 2015 return to Middlesbrough didn’t prove as illustrious as his first stint, but he’ll be remembered by most as a fantastic home grown talent, who gave so much to the club where he learnt his trade.

When Middlesbrough signed Gaizka Mendieta in 2003, it was apparent his best years were behind him, it certainly didn’t stop Boro fans rejoicing at the scoop that Steve McClaren had managed to pull off.

Whilst a lot of the latter part of his time at Middlesbrough saw him miss out through injury, the early years saw some truly scintillating displays, from lifting the league cup, to scoring a brace against Manchester United in a 4-1 victory.

The Mendieta signing at the time, showed the intent of the club, who would go onto lift a league cup, and get to a European final in the five years Mendieta spent at the club, that’s why he’s number eight on this list.

Also, when a foreign player settles so well in the area, he becomes an adopted Teessider, and since retiring, he’s settled in the area, where he still lives today. That’s why he’s number eight on my list.

Number seven, comes one of Bryan Robson’s first signings for Middlesbrough, Nigel Pearson. Signing for £750,000 in 1994, he proved to be the solid anchor at the back, as the club become one of the most attractive sides to watch in England during Robson’s tenure.

Pearson was made captain of the club, and captained the club to a dream first season, gaining promotion to the Premier League in what was Middlesbroughs last season at Ayresome Park.

Under Pearson’s captainship, the club would go onto 3 domestic cup finals, as well as another promotion, following a controversial points deduction saw the club relegated in 1996-97.

To make nearly 400 appearances for a club, it’s almost impossible to not be included in a top 10 list. Many Middlesbrough fans may disagree, and there are more attractive players who could make this list, but for me, Mark Schwarzer rightly deserves his place at sixth in my list.

The importance of a staple goalkeeper, who in his 11 seasons with the club, saw the club go through it’s most exciting and successful time, can not be understated.

Not only did he perform when it mattered, but in his 393 games, he managed to keep 117 clean sheets, impressive stats when you think that Middlesbrough teetered around mid-table mediocracy for much of Schwarzer’s 11 seasons.

His performance in the League Cup final was one of his best in a Boro shirt, and his penalty save, on the last day of the 04-05 season, without which, we’d have not got into the UEFA cup for a second season, are reasons enough for him to make this list.

Local legend Tony Mowbray comes in at number five. Becoming captain at the age of only 22, in 1986, the club were locked out of Ayresome Park, and had to play their games at Hartlepool United’s Victoria Park until a certain Steve Gibson came in to save the day.

With Gibson in charge of the financials, and Mowbray in charge on the pitch, the club managed to go from the brink of extinction to the top table of English football in two seasons.

As famous Middlesbrough manager Bruce Rioch once said “If I had to! fly to the moon, I’d take Tony Mowbray, my captain, he’s a magnificent man”. Need I say more?

Number four could have easily be one of three. During the “Glory years” in the early 2000’s watching Middlesbrough, we had an attacking front three of Mark Viduka, Yakubu and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. Any of them could have been at number four, but I have gone with Jimmy Floyd.

Not only did he score 34 goals in 88 games, but leading the line through both UEFA cup campaigns he also scored one of the fastest free kicks in the premier league, coming in at 230 kmh, against Manchester City in 2005.

The reason he makes the list is not only for his great goal return, but he also didn’t leave Middlesbrough to join arch rivals Newcastle.

Another player from the so called glory days of the early 2000’s, George Boateng is third on my list.

The absolute rock of a centre midfielder that made me appreciate a crunching tackle as much as a 30 yard screamer. Playing over 180 games for the club, scoring only 7 goals, tells you all you need to know about Boateng.

He’d run head first into a wall for the club, during his 6 years at the club, his loyalty was never questioned, and he was a vital cog in the team that went onto win the league cup, as well as helping Middlesbrough through both their European cup runs.

The current England manager is second on my list of top 10 Middlesbrough players. He’s the third captain on my list, but he’s the only captain on the list who has done what many thought would never happen. After 128 years in existence, Gareth Southgate is the only Middlesbrough captain in the history of the club, to say he has lifted a trophy in a Middlesbrough shirt.

Five glorious years on Teesside, making over 150 appearances for Middlesbrough, the now famous fist bumps to each corner of the Riverside were a staple of a hard fought win under Southgate’s leadership. His final game was a 4-0 defeat in the UEFA cup final, before he went onto manage the club for 3 seasons.

Though his management saw the club relegated from the Premier League, few Boro fans will disagree that he deserves a high spot on this list, and that there is only one person who could stop him getting the top spot.

The little fella swapped Sao Paulo for Teesside in October of 1995, and it was a monumental scoop for Brian Robson. The 22 year old lit up the Premier League with his attacking flare, and link up play with Ravenelli and Emerson. In his first season the club reached both the league and FA cup final, before ultimately getting relegated on the final season.

Scenes of Juninho breaking down in tears at the final whistle resonate with Boro fans, still today. After leaving to try and secure a Brazil place for the 1998 World Cup, the Little Fella was loaned back to the club in the 1999-2000 season, before making a sensational full time return to the club in 2002, not long after getting a World Cup Winners Medal with Brazil in South Korea.

It was on his third spell with Middlesbrough, that he fulfilled his true dream. He managed to win a trophy in a Middlesbrough shirt, his adopted home town club.

To this day, the man is talked about like a God on Teesside, and is one of few people, who will never have to pay for a pint on Teesside.