Former England defenders Woodgate and Bridge will play in the second league © EuroFootball.com

Two former England national team defenders - Jonathan Woodgate and Wayne Bridge - will play in the second division of the country's league next season.

The 32-year-old Woodgate, who once wore the shirts of clubs like Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur, signed a two-year contract with Middlesbrough.

Last season, the Englishman represented the Stoke City team in the Premier League, playing 17 matches, but his contract was not extended. As a free agent, he decided to return to the team he represented from 2006 to 2008.

Meanwhile, Manchester City-owned Bridge was loaned to Brighton for one season.

The 31-year-old footballer has been playing in Manchester since 2009, but has failed to establish himself in the starting lineup, so he has been loaned to West Ham and Sunderland teams.