Champions League - McClaren goes Dutch

Eurosport - Sat, 21 Jun 08:07:00 2008

Former England manager Steve McClaren has agreed to a two-year deal to coach Dutch side FC Twente.

2007 Steve McClaren - 0

FC Twente will play in the Champions League next season, giving the 47-year-old McClaren a fresh challenge following his sacking in the wake of England's failure to qualify for the Euro 2008.

McClaren said he had sought the advice of former England manager Bobby Robson before deciding to agree terms on what is his first coaching job since leaving the England post.

"I got some advice from Bobby Robson, who told me that the Dutch championship, and the club, would be to my liking," said McClaren.

McClaren replaces Fred Rutten, who has agreed to coach Schalke 04 in Germany's Bundesliga.

WHO ARE FC TWENTE?

Founded in 1965 in the southern city of Enschede, FC Twente are named after the region in which the 150,000-strong city resides.

To date, the only trophies adorning the cabinet of the Arke Stadium are two Dutch Cups (1997, 2001) and the 2006 Intertoto Cup.

The Eredivisie title has briefly called the city home, as it was won by Sportclub Enschede in 1926. Sportclub later merged with neighbours Enschedese Boys to form FC Twente.

Nicknamed the Tukkers, which is also how the inhabitants of the region are known, they have qualified for the Champions League third qualifying round for the first time in their history after beating Dutch giants Ajax in the end-of-season play-off.

After beating the four-time European Cup-winners 2-1 in Amsterdam, courtesy of two goals from star striker Blaise Nkufo, they held on for a second-leg 0-0 draw at home to come within a step of the lucrative group stages, something McClaren is now charged with achieving.

The 33-year-old striker Nkufo is one of Twente's star players, finishing as their top scorer in each of the past three seasons. The Congolese-born player spent most of his career as a journeyman around Switzerland, and became the first black player to represent the country, but missed the final Euro 2008 squad due to injury.

Club captain Orlando Engelaar is currently a key part of the Dutch squad that is dazzling at the European Championships, and plays in midfield alongside Australia international and former Middlesbrough trainee Luke Wilkshire.

The club enjoyed its golden period not long after forming, finishing third in the league three times in the late '60s and early '70s. This era culminated in them pushing Feyenoord for the title, before losing 3-2 to the Rotterdam club on the final day of the season.

However, UEFA Cup qualification was the reward for their efforts, and they exceeded expectations again by reaching the final along with Borussia Munchengladbach.

They were destined to finish second-best again, however, as the 0-0 draw they earned in the first leg in Germany was obliterated in the 5-1 defeat in the return leg.

AFP / Eurosport

Comment 59 - 78 of 78

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  1. good luck to mc.claren .he picked the team that should have been the best in the world, they let him and us down badly, leave him be to get on with his life.. bill.b.

    From BOWEN W, on Sat 21 Jun 3:53PM

  2. McLaren will probably do even worse at Twente than he did at England.

    From Justin, on Sat 21 Jun 8:02AM

  3. I HEARD THAT McLAREN IS PAYING TWENTE CLUB 4.000 POUNDS A WEEK FOR THE PRIVILEGE AS THEIR COUCH.
    I THINK THE DEAL IS VERY FAIR!!!!!!!
    LUCKY STEVE!!

    From dorin c, on Sat 21 Jun 6:19AM

  4. I HEARD THAT McLAREN IS PAYING TWENTE CLUB 4.000 POUNDS A WEEK FOR THE PRIVILEGE AS THEIR COUCH.
    I THINK THE DEAL IS VERY FAIR!!!!!!!

    From dorin c, on Sat 21 Jun 6:17AM

  5. i wish everyone would get off mcclarens back,its not his fault that england didnt qualify if anything it was the players for under estimating the opposition and thinking they had only to turn up.the likes of lampard and co ought to hold their heads in shame just look how far they could have gone,if anyones to blame its the fa bigwigs like barwick after all he appointed sven enough said

    From PHILIP H, on Sat 21 Jun 5:02AM

  6. Steve Mclaren should join Sven Erikkson somewhere in Mexico! Is it Mexico? In this second I don't remember.At any rate I think they make a superb duo....

    From dante, on Sat 21 Jun 2:47AM

  7. I JUST WANT LET YOU DONT YOU REMBEBRE WHENE BOBY ROBSON WAS SACKD SO SAME 2 THE LAST MANAGER AND THE ITAINE 2 WILL GET THE SACK........JUST REMEBER

    From londoncosta, on Sat 21 Jun 1:08AM

  8. I JUST WANT LET YOU DONT YOU REMBEBRE WHENE BOBY ROBSON WAS SACKD SO SAME 2 THE LAST MANAGER AND THE ITAINE 2 WILL GET THE SACK........JUST REMEBER

    From londoncosta, on Sat 21 Jun 1:06AM

  9. Mclaren couldn't get a job in Eglish football. Nuff said.

    From Malcy, on Fri 20 Jun 11:38PM

  10. The failure of England to reach the Euro 08 was a mix of very poor managememnt not just by that fake McClaren but by the English FA as well, lets also not forget the lucklustre perfomances of the English team who clearly showed that they could not be bothered. He should quite rightly stay abroad,and any English player who does not show the passion and hunger needed to play for your country should be binned. All McClaren he wanted was a big pay day and he got it. Anyway well done Turkey 2night am all for them what entertainment, something the England team could not create

    From wildwood, on Fri 20 Jun 10:56PM

  11. Thankgod he,s not coaching in this country better over there than here ruined my summer
    then again he dont bother he made loads of money getting the sack

    From stuartmcclelland42, on Fri 20 Jun 8:33PM

  12. tom.english01. Is this a forum where all people do is take the mickey out of others opinions and analogy's. Well touche, you need to look at the word sex not sec or maybe you have no experience in this.

    From Ricky, on Fri 20 Jun 6:41PM

  13. GOOD RIDDANCE!-The PRESS "HYPED" him into getting the ENGLAND Job...only to see him,"fatten in the LARD" of millions,of us soccer supporters...the bloke is "A FAKE",through and True...!!-We Dont need,the likes of him EVER AGAIN !!

    From Dean_ManU, on Fri 20 Jun 6:27PM

  14. he's gone there because no english club in their right mind would even think about appointing him as manager. what sort of manager stands under a brolly, sipping water out of a bottle, not shouting or remosntrating to his side, when the entire nation are screaming at their tv's for him to do something. Answer? one who was resigned to the fact that he was on his way out and had given up, quite simply. to add, his achievements at man u and boro were not his doing, they were alex ferguson and the players. the worst england manager in history. hopefully he'll go, and STAY away from our shores for good.

    From a.richmond77, on Fri 20 Jun 6:12PM

  15. IT WAS THE ENGLAND PLAYERS THAT WERE S... LEAVE THE BLOKE ALONE.WE AS A NATION HAVE BEEN S... FOR A VERY LONG TIME WHO EVER THE MANAGER HAS BEEN.

    From muddercat, on Fri 20 Jun 6:06PM

  16. I agree with the comments by Papadragon. he is a great coach at club level, look what he did at Man U and at Boro. He won silverware at each club. He was no worse than previous managers with england, its not is fault the players are prima donnas who dont play for the shirt and the pride of playing for England.

    Good luck Steve and shove it up the press who gave you a hard time by winning something again.

    From David S, on Fri 20 Jun 5:59PM

  17. Good Luck to McClaren
    Croatia and Russia the two teams who qualified ahead of England are in the last 8 and probably will go further
    England were beaten by two very good teams with two very good managers
    I feel sorry for Mac he took the blame and now has to leave the country but he's a good coach and "he'll be back" as someone else once said ?

    From Papadragon, on Fri 20 Jun 5:24PM

  18. Good Luck to McClaren
    Croatia and Russia the two teams who qualified ahead of England are in the last 8 and probably will go further
    England were beaten by two very good teams with two very good managers
    I feel sorry for Mac he took the blame and now has to leave the country but he's a good coach and "he'll be back" as someone else once said ?

    From Papadragon, on Fri 20 Jun 5:23PM

  19. "Poor Twente, they must be gutted to get a chance at the Champions Lge and then be told that he is your new boss, thats like getting to 16 and they change the sex age to 21..
    Glad he is in Holland rather than here."

    Thats possibly the worst analogy I have read in a long time, not being of the legal age to have sec is barely going to stop anyone is it?

    From tom.english01, on Fri 20 Jun 5:03PM

  20. Its ok blaming the managers but when there is not enough new up and coming players coming through wot do they excpect instead of buying in players from other country's they should spend there money on training English players at the moment we are training all these European players in our clubs and when the Euro or the would cup comes wot do we excpect if its not bad enough we train them to a very high standard they know the in and outs of our players as there are no new supprise's as they know the ins and outs of our player, playing along side them year in year out. But hey lets do what US brits do best blame the managers and not the overall fooball assosiation. Oh yea wot happend to the UK Football School Of Excellence MMMmmm!!!! Oh they do this in house dont they so who get's train the best MMMmmm!!!!

    From kayakfishingadventure, on Fri 20 Jun 4:53PM
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