Former England boss Steve McClaren is one of two former Premier League managers that Dundee United have targeted as the Tannadice club set about replacing former gaffer Robbie Neilson.
Destination Dundee United For Steve McClaren?
McClaren Speaks with Tony Asghar
McClaren, 59, reportedly spoke with Tangerines sporting director and personal friend Tony Asghar over the weekend with the ex-Queens Park Rangers, Newcastle United and Middlesbrough boss keen to undertake a new challenge.
Other names in the frame include League Two bound Tranmere Rovers manager Mickey Mellon and former Watford and Cardiff City supremo Malky Mackay, currently the Scottish Football Association’s performance director.
Mcclaren’s Career So Far
McClaren, who infamously underperformed in his spell as England manager, failing to qualify for Euro 2008, has not been afraid to pit his managerial wits on the road less travelled during his career.
He took charge of Eredivisie side Twente in June 2008; he led the regional club to their first-ever top-flight title in 2010. McClaren then left for Bundesliga outfit Wolfsburg that summer.
McClaren returned to Twente in 2012, in between lamentable spells at both Nottingham Forest and Derby County. Then, he signed a three-year deal with Newcastle that was cut short within a year of his appointment with his sacking in 2016.
After short spells back at Derby and at QPR in the Championship, McClaren has concentrated on media work with Sky. In addition, he has a factfinding role with FIFA.
Could Dundee United Be McClaren’s New Challenge?
Despite being in the Sky Sports gantry as late as Saturday afternoon for co-commentary on Leeds United’s 3-0 win over Fulham in the Championship, McClaren seems piqued by the opportunity to manage north of the border.
Dundee United will, of course, compete in the Scottish Premiership next season; the club won the Coronavirus curtailed Scottish Championship season.
Mackay has been out of the managerial hot seat since an ill-fated 138-day spell at Wigan Athletic in 2015. The Scot courted controversy in 2014 after a dossier was presented to the FA that evidenced racist, sexist and homophobic slurs being used by Mackay in communication with former Cardiff City sporting director Ian Moody; there was notable inference to Cardiff City owner Vincent Tan.
He briefly undertook a caretaker manager role for the national side following the departure of Gordon Strachan in 2017. He handed debuts to SPFL based players Ryan Jack, Ryan Christie, Callum McGregor and Jason Cummings in a November friendly against the Netherlands.
McClaren reverted back to his development role within the Scottish FA. This was due to the appointment of Alex McLeish to the full-time position of head coach in February 2018.
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