Jump to content

 

 

Recommended Posts

Pioneer Steve McClaren goes Dutch in search of brighter future

Steve McClaren

Tom Dart, Enschede

 

The chairman of FC Twente sounded delighted. ââ?¬Å?It's a beautiful day,ââ?¬Â Joop Munsterman said. Sat by his side, Steve McClaren grinned knowingly. Warm sunshine: not a brolly in sight. ââ?¬Å?We wanted a manager who knows what it means to work under pressure,ââ?¬Â Munsterman continued, and whatever the debate about his ability, McClaren qualifies in that respect.

 

Twente are doubling the seating capacity of their stadium, to 24,000, and their new manager is also rebuilding: his confidence and credibility. A big project has taken him to the nondescript town of Enschede in the Netherlands, near the German border. If he would rather have been in Paul Ince's seat yesterday, being unveiled as the new Blackburn Rovers manager, McClaren did not show it.

 

He held a drink: not coffee, as at Wembley against Croatia in November, but champagne. The light glinted off those shiny teeth but there was steel behind the smile, gravitas inside the grin; the aura of frailty, which he wore like a shroud during his final matches with England, has lifted.

 

Seven months after the calamitous end to his tenure as England head coach, this is McClaren's new beginning, although, while the start is fresh, so are his memories. ââ?¬Å?I have never been bitter,ââ?¬Â he said. ââ?¬Å?I have kept my belief. Time heals and I will come to the fore again. I have become harder and less trusting of people in the last two years and maybe that's a lesson I had to learn. I think it made me stronger and, having coped with that, I can more or less cope with anything.

Related Links

 

* Robson hails McClaren courage in going Dutch

 

* McClaren shows that crime can pay

 

ââ?¬Å?It was one of those things that didn't work out and I'm 47 and have years ahead. This is a new challenge. Who knows where it might lead?ââ?¬Â

 

McClaren's first match is a friendly against local amateurs on Saturday; his competitive debut could define the season. Courtesy of last season's fourth-place finish in the Dutch league and victory over Ajax in the subsequent play-off, Twente will play as yet unknown opposition in the Champions League qualifiers. Reaching the group stage would be a huge fillip for a club whose highest earner is on about ââ??¬300,000 (Ã?£240,000) a year.

 

McClaren described his move - facilitated by Frank Arnesen, the Chelsea director of scouting and youth development - as that of a pioneer. ââ?¬Å?We're blinkered [in England], we're not opening our horizons up to coaching abroad,ââ?¬Â he said. ââ?¬Å?Did you know there's well over 100 Dutch coaches working in Europe? How many English coaches working in Europe? One, now? The development excites me, I believe it'll be beneficial for my future. They develop good coaches here, good football and good players. It's a great combination.ââ?¬Â

 

Twente are playing against a selection of the best local amateurs from hengelo(my town) on Saturday so i may go along and watch.

I guess it is goodbye passing football and welcome long ball stuff for Twente then.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Twente are playing against a selection of the best local amateurs from hengelo(my town) on Saturday so i may go along and watch.

I guess it is goodbye passing football and welcome long ball stuff for Twente then.

 

What's wrong with that! It got us to the Uefa Cup Final :D:p

Link to post
Share on other sites

Such a move is easier for him than for his wife. He has social contact at his work while she is left at home in a land where she does not know the language, probably staring at four walls. Many do speak English here but even at that you can't eavesdrop and gossip and in the street you feel alienated.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.


×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.