Mclaren confirmed as FC Twente boss

[DEFchenkOE]

Dutch side name McClaren as boss


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

"I'm delighted to be back in club management and looking forward to meeting staff and players," McClaren told BBC Radio 5 Live.
"I'm looking forward to the challenge of playing in the Dutch league and the Champions League qualifiers."
The chairman of FC Twente has previously admitted that some fans of the club are against the appointment.
"Ninety per cent of fans think why him? But he is used to working with top players," said Joop Munsterman.
Twente finished fourth last season to secure a place in the Champions League qualifiers for the first time.
"I noted from the first meeting with chairman Joop Munsterman and other people at the club that they were very co-operative.
"It's an exciting time for the club, they were very successful under Fred Rutten (now at Bundesliga side Schalke) and I cannot wait to start."
McClaren, who has had spells as Middlesbrough manager and number two to Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, has been out of the game since being sacked by England in November after failing to secure a place at Euro 2008.
The 47-year-old, who had been linked to the vacant manager's position at Premier League side Blackburn Rovers, also told the BBC that he sought the advice of former PSV Eindhoven and England boss Sir Bobby Robson before accepting the role.
"He also told me that FC Twente is a fantastic club and that I would feel at home.
"I am excited to be working again at a club that fits me well. I am looking forward to this new challenge."



BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/7427342.stm


Strange appointment imo but i'll be interested to see how he does there.

 

[Dougal]

A step up from his last job then

 

[Bonjour]

Ninety per cent of fans think "WTF!!!"

 

[worcestersauce]

Nice that he chose them over all the other big club offers he must have had. :grin:

 

[Supersonic]

Gutted to them.

 

[HuggyBear]

Will Engelaar be there next season or has he moved on? It'll be interesting to see which EPL players he goes after, and might do some of them some good to play in a foreign league. Anybody know much about Twente's financial status?

 

[chrissivad]

A step up from his last job then

:shake:


although i dont think he has been a good manager so far i do hope he does well. Its about time brittish managers moved to other contreys to manage.

as HuggyBear has said, should get some Brittish players playing out in the continent

 

[MrWoolley]

There in the champions league aren't they? Must have some cash.

 

[WaynoTHFC]

Wasn't expecting this at all

 

[Bromavinci]

im sure Steve was expecting something along the lines of Blackburn or Man City himself...

 

[kishman]

At least there'll be an english manager in the champions league.

 

[General Levy]

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.

 

[Locotoro]

omg Mclaren in the champions league, he shouldnt be anywhere near a football pitch, let alone managing a team

 

[spurslenny]

i just heard a collective sigh of relief from all blackburn fans

 

[paul_1979yid]

Bless FC Twente.....

They just dont know what they r letting themself in for!!! :rofl:

 

[PT]

Like others before him, a decent coach of players but lacks on the man-management front. He'll want a strong back-room staff if he's to succeed.

Good luck to the fella. He's better out of English football for a season or two.

 

[SpurSince57]

He wouldn't have lasted five minutes at United if he hadn't been a more than capable coach. Hardly his fault he was promoted way above his abilities.

 

[tooey]

IMO hes not that bad a coach, hes just had the curse of being england manager. didnt do too badly at boro. Its just that evan the best manager in the world can look pants when they have to manage the bunch of losers that is our national side.

 

[SaKkA.kenchiku]

I have a strong feeling McClaren will be successful there, Reading is CV its not bad at all. Many manager has failed with England, as may Capello- will that make Cappello an awful manager? I think not. Will all presumed Sven was awful because of England. Yet he proved himself again at Man City.

Il back mcclaren to be fairly success at Twente...

 

[Bonjour]

Like others before him, a decent coach of players but lacks on the man-management front. He'll want a strong back-room staff if he's to succeed.

Good luck to the fella. He's better out of English football for a season or two.

He is also rather limited on the tactical front.