´Wally with the Brolly´ McClaren on verge of triumph

Former England coach Steve McClaren, once the object of scathing ridicule in his native country, is set to pull off one of the most remarkable transformations with Dutch club FC Twente.

On Sunday, McClaren will be bidding to beat league rivals NAC Breda and, depending on second-placed Ajax’s result, become the first English manager since Bobby Robson at Porto in 1996 to win a major European league title.

With one game left, FC Twente are one point clear of Martin Jol’s Ajax and poised to win a first Championship since 1926 after being runners-up last season.

Lampooned as “The Wally with the Brolly” after England’s dreams of qualifying for Euro 2008 were washed away in the Croatian rain two years ago, McClaren quickly fell out of favour in his native country.

Despite building a solid reputation during his time with English club Middlesbrough from 2001 to 2006, Sir Alex Ferguson’s former deputy at Manchester United found himself with little choice but to try his hand abroad.

Two years on, the 49-year-old can return home with his head held high, with his once savage critics in the media already touting him as a possible manager of Premier League clubs such as West Ham.

Portuguese giants FC Porto have also expressed an interest in his services.

“Seeing our results these past two seasons we can only applaud this choice,” said FC Twente president Joop Munsterman.

“We quickly realised that Steve is a great tactician.”

The Englishman has transformed the club from the lively university town of Enschede in the northern Netherlands, just west of the German border.

The Tukkers (The Reds) have long left PSV Eindhoven, Feyenoord and title-holders AZ Alkmaar in their wake, clubs with budgets largely superior to McClaren’s.

A victory at NAC Breda will give his side the title at the expense of bitter rivals Ajax Amsterdam.

McClaren acknowledges that it has been a remarkable journey since he announced he was moving to the Netherlands “to enjoy himself again.”

“When Twente contacted me I took advice mainly from Sir Bobby Robson (who won the Dutch title with PSV), who told me that the Dutch championship, and the club, would be to my liking,” he said.