Former England boss Steve McClaren has gone from being “the Wally with the Brolly” to Dutch Master after leading Twente Enschede to their first league title on Sunday.
McClaren, ridiculed by British media for standing on the touchline under an umbrella during England’s defeat to Croatia on a rainy night at Wembley, which meant they failed to qualify for Euro 2008, accepted the job at Twente on the advice of managerial great Bobby Robson.
“I think that Bobby would have loved this for me,” McClaren told reporters of Robson who died of cancer last year.
PHOTO: EPA
“But it is a miracle that Twente won the title,” he said. “From the start of the season we were top or second and our opponents pressurized and chased us.”
McClaren joined Twente in June 2008, seven months after his England reign had ended in humiliation.
In McClaren’s first season, the club finished second to AZ Alkmaar and lost the Dutch Cup final on penalties against Heerenveen.
He completed his road to redemption with Sunday’s 2-0 win against NAC Breda but was coy about his future.
“This is not the moment to talk about my future. Now it is time to enjoy and party and that is what I will do,” McClaren said.
“Twente is a fantastic club and we will see what the future brings us more,” he said.
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