Queens Park Rangers have today confirmed the appointment of Steve McClaren on a two-year contract. This comes days after Ian Holloway departed Loftus Road. McClaren returns for a second-spell after a coaching stint in 2013.
The 57-year-old holds his first outright management job since leaving Derby County for the second time in 2017. Since then, he has worked in Israel with Maccabi Tel Aviv as a coaching consultant. McClaren is looking to win promotion into the Premier League for the first time.
McClaren, who has also managed the England national team and a was a long-time assistant to Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, says he is relishing the task ahead,
“It’s great to be back – and it’s a challenge that I’m excited by.
“I must admit that I’ve followed the club closely over the last five years, because of the three months I had here. From the outside, I’ve seen the progress, work and changes that have gone on – especially over the last two years – in streamlining the squad and getting the budget down. The Board and owners deserve credit for that.”
The ex-Middlesbrough and FC Twente boss insists he favours ‘attractive, attacking football’ and whilst the priority is to ‘win football matches’, he aims to do so ‘in a certain style’.
Director of Football Les Ferdinand has hailed the appointment of McClaren, describing it as a coup. The former Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur and England striker says McClaren has ‘a fantastic reputation in the game for coaching and developing players’. Considering the young squad at his disposal, he’ll be hoping to nurture several talents through the ranks and into the first-team picture.
