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UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: McClaren revving up to rally at Twente

/noticias.info/ Former England manager Steve McClaren is "looking forward to the challenge" of leading FC Twente as the Dutch club target a UEFA Champions League place.

Respected predecessor
With his predecessor Fred Rutten having left for FC Schalke 04 after earning the club a debut in the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round through the Eredivisie's end-of-season play-offs, McClaren has a major task on his hands. He must also prove himself to the Netherlands' football establishment, who were surprised at Twente's decision to appoint a foreigner in a golden age for Dutch coaches.

Essential criteria
"It was not easy to find a successor for Fred Rutten," said Twente chairman Joop Munsterman. "We needed a coach used to working with top players, with European experience and who has worked with a football academy. Steve McClaren seemed to fulfil all those criteria. We were told it would be impossible to sign him, but after speaking with him we soon found out we were thinking similar thoughts."

European pedigree
McClaren's CV is certainly an impressive one. The 47-year-old was Sir Alex Ferguson's assistant at Manchester United FC during their treble-winning 1998/99 season and managed Middlesbrough FC from 2001 until their defeat by Sevilla FC in the 2005/06 UEFA Cup final. He then took the England job, only to be dismissed after the national team failed to earn a place at UEFA EURO 2008™.

Good recommendation
With his stock at its lowest in England, McClaren can rebuild his career in the Netherlands. "I always wanted to work abroad one day and it's a huge challenge to me to work with Twente in the Eredivisie and Champions League," he said. "[Former PSV Eindhoven coach] Sir Bobby Robson, who I know from Middlesbrough, told me Twente was a nice club where I can develop further as a coach."

Key departures
The losses of Karim El Ahmadi to Feyenoord and especially Dutch international midfielder Orlando Engelaar to Schalke have presented McClaren with an early challenge, although the club have brought Cheik Tioté from RSC Anderlecht and Theo Janssen from BV Vitesse to strengthen the squad. The new coach is eager to work with the squad he has rather than make sweeping changes.

'Twente can learn from me'
"I am not going to change the fantastic foundation," he said. "But even this FC Twente side can be improved. I am looking forward to the challenge. English football is different from Dutch football. Just as I can learn from Twente, Twente can learn from me. I have a lot of European experience and that is why I am looking forward to the UEFA Champions League qualifying round." notas_de_prensa_archivo