From Manchester United's tactical architect to England's "Second Choice Steve"
In short: Steve McClaren's career is a study in extreme highs and crushing lows. He helped Manchester United secure a historic treble and led Middlesbrough to their first major trophy, yet he also faced intense media scrutiny and dismissal after failing to qualify England for Euro 2008.
McClaren's rise was marked by his role as Alex Ferguson's assistant at Manchester United. Joining in 1999 to replace Brian Kidd, he was part of a squad that secured a historic treble—the Premier League, FA Cup, and UEFA Champions League—and went on to win every league title contested during his tenure. His reputation grew as a tactically astute coach who embraced modern methods like video analysis and sports psychology. He was initially hired by Derby County in 1995. His coaching journey actually began at Oxford United.
As a manager, McClaren achieved significant milestones with Middlesbrough. He led the club to its first major honour, the 2004 League Cup, and secured their first-ever qualification for a European competition. By guiding his side to the 2006 UEFA Cup final, he became the inaugural English coach to reach a European final since 1985, and the first Englishman to secure a major trophy since 1996. He also achieved success in the Netherlands, winning the Eredivisie title with Twente in 2010. This victory marked the club's first championship.
However, his appointment as England manager in 2006 brought significant challenges. Known as "Second Choice Steve" after being selected from a shortlist that included Sam Allardyce and Luiz Felipe Scolari, his tenure was marked by controversy. After a poor run of form, including scoring only one goal in five matches between October 2006 and March 2007, England failed to qualify for UEFA Euro 2008. This led to his dismissal a year later, following intense criticism of his tactics and player selections. During his time with the national team, he chose Terry Venables as his assistant. He also employed a public relations expert to manage his media presence.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Steve McClaren
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