Newcastle United appoint Steve McClaren as new head coach

Newcastle United have appointed former Derby County boss Steve McClaren as their new head coach at St James’ Park on a three-year deal, succeeding the club’s caretaker John Carver at the Tyneside helm.

He said: “I am privileged to be appointed head coach of Newcastle. This is a big club with a wonderful heritage. St James’ Park is like a cathedral on Saturday afternoon, a symbol for the city and I am excited to be given this opportunity.

“I know how important Newcastle United is to the city and the region. The supporters are the most loyal, passionate and devoted in the world. Despite everything, they maintain their faith. We owe it to them to do everything we can to reward them with success.

“There’s a lot of work to do but the club has made it clear about wanting success and I would not have come here if I didn’t believe they were serious. This club has waited far too long to win a trophy. That’s one of my primary objectives here.

“I’ve already won trophies as a manager and a club the size of Newcastle United should be winning cups and finishing in the top eight of the Premier League.

“I’m determined to give the supporters a Newcastle United they can be proud of. The hard work starts now.”

McClaren takes over at the club after Carver narrowly secured their top-flight status this season, having endured a torrid run of Premier League form which could have easily resulted in a daunting drop down divisions.

However, former England manager McClaren was involved in trying to see Derby go in the opposite direction, but his Rams side missed out on the Championship play-offs this term, following an end of season collapse which ultimately saw the 54-year-old get sacked.

Under McClaren, the Rams were leading the Championship in late February but won only two out of their last 13 league games, but the recently dismissed boss has immediately found a new role at Newcastle.

The former FC Twente boss knows all about working in the North East and will be aware that instant results will be needed to please an already unhappy crowd on Tyneside, having enjoyed a relatively successful stint with Middlesbrough in his career.

McClaren’s spell in charge of Boro resulted in him winning the League Cup, taking the club into Europe, reaching the UEFA Cup final and eventually leaving for the England job in 2006. The newly-appointed Magpies boss is likely to come under immediate pressure due to his previous connections to close city rivals Boro, but he will be keen rebuild his reputation after failing to gain promotion for a second successive season with Derby.

Patrick Vieira, an elite development coach at Manchester City and former Arsenal captain, had also been linked with the vacant post on Tyneside, but McClaren is the man who has been trusted with taking the club forward into next season.

McClaren is a vastly experienced coach, having learnt his trade under Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, as the Scot’s assistant for two campaigns, before two spells as his country’s assistant on either side of a five-year stay at Middlesbrough. Before arriving at Derby, the York-born coach also served his time abroad, with two stints as FC Twente’s boss adding to his 10 months in charge of German outfit Wolfsburg, where he was eventually also dismissed from.

The well-travelled Englishman will now face the daunting task of steering Newcastle towards the top half of the Premier League table next term, with his inherited side 11/2 with Coral to be relegated.