McClaren relishing Derby return

FC Twente's coach Steve McClaren looks on during a Dutch Eredivisie football match against Ajax Amsterdam in Amsterdam on September 29, 2012 (ANP/AFP/File)

London (AFP) – Steve McClaren said it was a dream come true for him to return to Derby County as manager.

The former England boss was appointed on a three-year deal on Monday after second-tier side Derby sacked Nigel Clough at the club where his father Brian won the English title in 1972.

McClaren played for the Midlands side in the 1980s before becoming their assistant manager in the 1990s.

"This club has got fantastic history and tradition," he said on Tuesday. "I have always followed Derby County. Because I played and was assistant it was always in my head that I would love to opportunity to manage them and it came quickly."

McClaren, who served as an assistant coach under Alex Ferguson at Manchester United from 1999 to 2001, had been working as an assistant at QPR under Harry Redknapp since the beginning of July following his sacking by Dutch club FC Twente in February.

Prior to that McClaren had left Nottingham Forest after just 10 games in charge in 2011, blaming the club's failure to sign two players he wanted as the reason for his departure.

McClaren, whose managerial career started at Middlesbrough, also had an unsuccessful short spell at German side Wolfsburg, who had hired him after he led Twente to the Dutch title in his first spell in Holland.

His England reign infamously ended on a rainy night at Wembley when Croatia won a Euro 2008 qualifier 3-2 to stop his team reaching the finals.

It was the first time in 24 years that England had not qualified for the European Championships.