For me no. Regrettably I can recall been stood at a rain-soaked Wembley on a cold November night and watching McClaren’s England spectacular humiliation against Croatia. The 3-2 defeat saw the Three Lions fail to qualify for Euro 2008. My memory of the night may be a bit a hazy after the game, mainly due to the need drown my sorrows, but that feeling of failure has remained etched in my mind since then.
To be fair to McClaren he has managed to pick his career up off the floor in the years that have passed. A successful spell in Holland saw him win the Dutch Eredivisie in his second season with FC Twente. McClaren followed up this success with a move to the Bundesliga with Wolfsburg and after a slow start results are beginning to improve their.
FA Director of Football Development Trevor Brooking believes that McClaren’s experience of managing on the continent could really be an advantage should he wish to give managing his national side a second chance.
He said: “Steve has done fantastic to get a title (with FC Twente). PSV and Ajax are usually the sides in Holland who do that and now Wolfsburg are picking up. It is a big challenge and it is great for an English coach.
“Could Steve do the England job again? I am sure if he continues to be a success his name will be in the frame again. I wouldn’t rule anybody out.”
While McClaren’s recovery has been impressive I still feel the scepticism that would surround his appointment would be far too great for him to ever be a success, and while the other options aren’t great, I still think we shouldn’t take a step backwards and turn to a manager who has previously failed.
