Steve McClaren - back from the brink

He was subject to a torrent of abuse and ridicule when he led England to dismal failure in their Euro 2008 qualifying campaign, but 30 months later, Steve McClaren has bounced back in style.

Soon after that now infamous, wet November night against Croatia, where he was dubbed, the "Wally with the Brolly", McClaren made the unusual, but ultimately wise move to take a job aboard.

It is unusual because most English players and coaches choose to stay at home. And it was wise because it gave him the time and space to rebuild his shattered career which had hit an all time low.

He moved to Holland and took up a role with FC Twente in the east of the country. He brought no coaching staff with him and instead immersed himself into Dutch way of life - perhaps too much so if his "Dutch" accent in a now infamous TV interview is anything to go by.

Twente - or the Tukkers, as they are nicknamed - last won the Eredivisie in 1926, when they were known as Sportclub Enschede. The closest they had come to repeating that was when they finished runners-up in 1974. This year's online odds reflect the size of the task that faced the club this time around.

In his first season at the club, McClaren led them to second place, while they also got to the Dutch Cup final and were agonisingly close to making the Champions League group stages, before losing out on away goals to Sporting Lisbon.

This year was different though, and their 2-0 win of NAC Breda last weekend sealed the league Championship ahead of free-scoring Ajax.

Though the dominance of sides like Ajax, PSV and Feyenoord have weakened in recent years the achievement of taking such a small side like Twente to the title shouldn't be understated, and in doing so McLaren has joined the thin ranks of English managers who have won titles overseas.

Is it time to return to the Premier League? After his harrowing England experience I expect not. But one day with more experience, and honours, under his belt McClaren may make a return to England and prove to the doubters that he is a good manager after all.

Meanwhile, Fabio Capello, his replacement as England manager, has the hefty weight of expectation on his shoulders.

The Football World Cup betting makes the side third favourites, and Capello will know a poor performance could see him out of a job.