Matthew also represented the under-19 football team of England and gained three caps for the team. With Matthew as one of the players, Middlesbrough F.C. won the FA Youth Cup against Aston Villa in 2003. To win the title Middlesbrough played two matches against Aston, scoring three and one goals in each match, while the latter’s score in both the games stood at nil.
Following Middlesbrough's relegation in the 2008–09 season, there were rumors of Bates’ future with them. However, despite more than one Premier League clubs showing their interest, he opted to stay in the club and signed a new three-year contract instead.
Matthew plagued by numerous injuries throughout his career. His 2006–07 season ended prematurely because of a torn cruciate ligament. Between 2008 and 2009 alone he suffered from three injuries, requiring multiple operations.
That he returned to playing football is in itself a miracle. But return he did. And from the end of 2012 till mid-2014, Bates played for Bristol City and Bradford City Football Clubs. From July 1, 2014, he has been associated with Hartlepool United F.C., first as a defender and then as both a backroom staff of its new manager Craig Harrison and its first-team coach.
Since then he has been in charge of the reserve team, although he still remains registered as a player. Matthew’s last contract with the club was extended on May 20, 2016. It is due to expire on June 30, 2018.
The ex-Middlesbrough FC defender and current Hartlepool United coach wound up in controversy after he was caught drink-driving near Darlington, in north-east England, on September 20. Bates pleaded guilty to driving his Mercedes E250 even when he was almost twice over the legal drink-drive limit s at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court.
The court has disqualified him from driving for 17 months. It also ordered him to pay a fine of £646, a £64 victim surcharge and £85 in court costs.
Bates had an affair with reality TV star, model and entrepreneur Chanelle Hayes in 2009. Hayes, who was his girlfriend, is also the mother of his only child, Blakely Hayes-Bates, born in July 2010. They parted ways the same year.
The English national sporting star and coach, who is not married yet, has a net worth of 84.8 million dollars.
