Steve McClaren has been confirmed as the next England head coach and will take up his new role from August 1 on a four-year contract.
The appointment of the Middlesbrough manager was unanimously agreed at Thursday’s FA board meeting.
McClaren said: “This is the biggest honour that any coach can have, and is obviously the highlight of my career. It’s a massive challenge and one that I welcome. I have hugely enjoyed my time at Middlesbrough and am very grateful to the club.
“However, this was an opportunity I couldn’t refuse. My immediate priority is next week’s UEFA Cup final with Boro, and then working with Sven and his coaching team to achieve success in Germany this summer, before I turn my thoughts to the Euro 2008 qualifying campaign.”
McClaren is Sven-Goran Eriksson’s assistant coach and was part of the coaching team at the 2002 World Cup and Euro 2004. He will also be in Germany with England this summer.
The announcement brings an end to a long and painful saga during which the FA initially offered the job to Luiz Felipe Scolari only for the Brazilian to turn them down.
FA chief executive Brian Barwick told www.thefa.com: “I’m delighted to be able to announce Steve’s appointment today.
“He has shown himself to be a top-class coach for both country and club, leading Middlesbrough to the most successful period in the club’s history. He is the only current English manager in the Premiership to have won a major trophy.
“Steve is highly respected within the game, has a wealth of international experience and ensures continuity within the England team set-up.
“I would also like to express my gratitude to Middlesbrough FC, and the other candidates and clubs involved, for their co-operation throughout this process.”
Eriksson said he was looking forward to working with McClaren in Germany. He said: “I’m obviously very pleased for Steve, but also for the England team. I have worked closely with Steve ever since I came to England and know how good a coach he is.
“He is well-liked and well-respected by the players and staff. I have no doubt that he has all the credentials to be very successful in the job and wish him all the best.
“I said that I didn’t want the next England coach to be with the team at the World Cup, unless he was already involved in the set-up. Steve is a key part of my coaching staff and I’m delighted to have him with us in Germany.”
Steve McClaren Factfile:
1961: Born Fulford, York, May 3.
1978: Joins Hull City.
1985: After 178 games and 16 goals for the Tigers, joins Derby.
1988: After 25 games for the Rams - and eight on loan at Lincoln - moves to Bristol City.
1990: Joins Oxford.
1995: Becomes assistant to Jim Smith at Derby after quitting as Oxford youth team coach.
1999: Joins Manchester United as Sir Alex Ferguson’s new assistant manager following Brian Kidd’s departure to take over at Blackburn.
United go on to complete an unprecedented treble of European Cup, Premiership and FA Cup.
2000: November - England lose friendly against Italy 1-0 in Turin as McClaren and Leicester manager Peter Taylor take charge of the national team while the Football Association search for a successor to Kevin Keegan, which ultimately ends with the appointment of Sven-Goran Eriksson.
2001: February - McClaren is a member of Eriksson’s coaching set-up as England triumph 3-0 over Spain in a friendly at Villa Park.
March - Ferguson blocks any continued involvement for McClaren in the England set-up.
April - Manchester United crowned Premiership champions.
May - Mulls over becoming Harry Redknapp’s successor at West Ham after confirming he has had talks with the Upton Park club.
June - Unveiled as Middlesbrough’s new manager.
2002: Middlesbrough lose opening four games of the Premiership season before recovering to finish 12th.
April - Boro lose 1-0 to Arsenal in FA Cup semi-final at Old Trafford.
June - Part of England’s coaching staff as England are knocked out by Brazil in the quarter-finals of the World Cup.
November - Announces he is leaving his position as assistant to Eriksson to concentrate on his job at Middlesbrough.
2003: Guides Middlesbrough to 11th in the Premiership.
2004: February 29 - Middlesbrough defeat Bolton 2-1 in the Carling Cup final at the Millennium Stadium to ensure European qualification. It is Boro’s first major trophy in their 128-year history.
May 14 - Football Association confirm McClaren is to temporarily replace Brian Kidd on England coaching staff for the duration of Euro 2004.
May 15 - Boro lose final game of the league season at Portsmouth 5-1 and finish 11th again.
June - England’s Euro 2004 campaign stalls in the quarter-finals, with defeat by Portugal in a penalty shoot-out. McClaren soon becomes established as Sven-Goran Eriksson’s right-hand man on a permanent basis, a part-time role running alongside his job with Boro.
2005: January 11 - Warned as to future conduct by FA after admitting improper conduct charge following a confrontation with referee Phil Dowd after Franck Queudrue’s red card at Tottenham on November 28.
May - Middlesbrough finish seventh in the Premiership and qualify for the UEFA Cup.
October 12 - Victory for England over Poland at Old Trafford means McClaren and Eriksson can celebrate World Cup qualification.
November 22 - Middlesbrough announce McClaren has signed a new contract, keeping him at the club until 2009.
2006: January 25 - Middlesbrough chief executive Keith Lamb reveals McClaren’s contract remains unsigned.
January 27 - McClaren signs contract at a press conference.
February 4 - Middlesbrough supporters call for McClaren to be sacked during 4-0 home defeat to Aston Villa.
February 11 - McClaren’s side thrash Chelsea 3-0 and begin their successful climb away from the relegation zone.
April 23 - With fear of relegation banished and McClaren’s reputation restored by improved league form, Boro have the chance to reach the FA Cup final. However their semi-final against West Ham at Villa Park ends in a 1-0 defeat.
April 27 - Middlesbrough reach UEFA Cup final after 4-3 aggregate victory over Steaua Bucharest. Boro had been 3-0 down on aggregate in the first half of the second leg but staged a stunning fightback, Massimo Maccarone netting an 89th-minute clincher.
On the same day, McClaren’s chances of becoming England’s new manager look to have been extinguished as the FA offer the job to Portugal’s Brazilian boss Luiz Felipe Scolari. Twenty-four hours later, Scolari refuses the job.
May 4: Appointed to succeed Eriksson after the World Cup.
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