Newcastle have named Steve McClaren as their new head coach ahead of the 2015/2016 season.
The former England manager was sacked by Derby County last month but was given the hot seat at Tyneside, signing a new three year contract.
The decision marks the 54-year-old’s first return to the Premier League since departing Middlesbrough for the England job in 2006 and McClaren is delighted to finally sign with the club, having rejected the Magpies in the past:
“I moved into this area 15 years ago and became manager of Middlesbrough – and then I realised how big a club Newcastle was.”
“I always wanted to have this job – always. I’ve had two or three opportunities, as far back as 2004 when I was at Middlesbrough, meeting (former Newcastle chairman) Freddie Shepherd.
“But everything is about timing in football and it wasn’t the right time in 2004. Then I was at Twente, they got relegated, there was an interest, but unfortunately I was at FC Twente and I’d only been there for a year. So again, timing, and loyalty to FC Twente to stay on.
“And then obviously the well-documented (offer) of January just gone, where again, the timing wasn’t right. I had a job to do at Derby.”
McClaren will be hoping to turn the fortunes of the club that survived relegation last season around as expectations will be high.
