Few men elicit such a range of emotions as Steve McClaren. And, after a dismal spell at Newcastle, he has plenty to prove at Derby.
It was, until recently, one of the greatest mysteries in English football, just behind ‘Pizza Gate’ and the disappearance of Savio Nsereko.
Quite simply: is Steve McClaren actually any good?
After all, this was a man who assisted Sir Alex Ferguson to an unprecedented treble at Manchester United, led Middlesbrough to the UEFA Cup final and inspired FC Twente to the first Eredivisie title in the club’s history.
Then again, this was also a man rapidly discarded by Wolfsburg and Nottingham Forest after winning a combined ten games with both, the man at the helm of one of the greatest embarrassments in the history of the England national team. And that’s saying something.
And then came Newcastle and a nine month stint that appeared to confirm that Steve was indeed a ‘Wally’ whatever the weather. It’s understandable, then, that Derby County fans are quite divided by the news that he has returned to the iPro Stadium 17 months after chairman Mel Morris dispensed with his services after two failed promotion pushes.
In fact, McClaren’s Derby career appears to sum up his managerial career as a whole; early promise and expectation preceding a staggering late collapse. Yet, true to form, the ever-grinning Yorkshireman is dividing opinion once more.
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