Former-England boss Steve McClaren could be set to lead little FC Twente to their first ever Dutch league title as FC Twente.
A victory over midtable NAC Breda next Sunday would secure the title for the provincial club.
Successful
Steve McClaren has done a superb job in Enschede. Last season was his first in charge and they finished as runners-up in the Eredivisie.
This season’s rise to the top of the pile has been amazing considering the size of the club compared to the giants of Ajax, PSV Eindhoven and Feyenoord.
McClaren has always been a decent coach. He did a good job at Middlesbrough and as a result got the England job. Unfortunately for McClaren it was too much too soon for him. He didn’t have enough experience to handle the very demanding position.
Media
The English media is famous for their hassling of every celebrity in the country. Everybody in football is a prime target. England head coaches are favourites for ridicule and insults. They had a field day with McClaren when England failed to qualify for Euro 2008.
McClaren was hounded, hassled and insulted. Some of the abuse he received from the media was harsh to say the least. The personal attacks he received were typical of the over-the-top British media. They dubbed him ‘The Wholly with the Brolly’ after he used an umbrella to shield himself from the rain in England’s crucial 3-2 defeat by Croatia at Wembley.
In Holland away from the British media he has had time to concentrate on coaching rather than having to worry about headlines in the tabloid rags. He’s gone about his job quietly and efficiently and rebuilt his reputation.
Abroad
After leaving the England job his reputation was in tatters and he didn’t know his next destination. McClaren was linked with the Blackburn Rovers job before initially turning down the Twente position.
However former-England boss Bobby Robson recommended that he considered managing in Holland, as the veteran had done previously. He believed it would help broaden his coaching horizons and McClaren listened to the wily old fox.
As in a lot of cases Robson was proved right as he has carried on the good work of former coach Fred Rutten at Twente. The development of the club has been steady and done it within a tight budget. McClaren has work wonders in balancing the books at the club.
Sales
FC Twente are likely to lose some of their star players this summer. Star striker Blaise Nkufo has already agreed to join Major League Soccer franchise Seattle Sounders after the World Cup with Switzerland.
This season’s top goalscorer Bryan Ruiz has also been linked with a move away this summer with Premier League Everton monitoring his development. Ruiz has been one of the major surprises in European football this season and has proved an inspired signing by McClaren.
With lots of his stars set to leave the club, despite a potential league title victory, will McClaren want to move to pastures new? It remains to be seen if he will stay with Twente or move on elsewhere. He certainly won’t be short of options.
Links
The job McClaren has done has attracted attention from all over Europe and he has been linked with major clubs all over the Europe including German side Hamburg and Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon. He has also been strongly linked with a move back to the Premier League.
The club who are supposedly interested in acquiring his services are West Ham United. West Ham are believed to be looking to part company with their boss Gianfranco Zola this summer. It would be a huge mistake for McClaren to return to England at this stage of his managerial career.
For his own good he should stay on the continent without being in the constant gaze of the intrusive British press. English football is not ready for him to return from his self-imposed exile and West Ham fans don’t seem to keen to see him arrive at the Boleyn Ground anytime soon.
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