Steve McClaren joins EFL club in newly-created role

Rotherham United have appointed Steve McClaren as the club’s first-ever head of football.

The former England boss has taken on the newly-created role at the League Two club following their relegation to the fourth tier.

AFP

McClaren had held talks with the Millers last month prior to his appointment.

The 65-year-old will provide ‘strategic leadership and oversight’ as part of his new role, the club said in their statement.

Rotherham are currently without a first-team manager following Lee Clark’s exit at the end of the season.

McClaren has now been tasked with overseeing the appointment of his successor.

He will also work alongside director of football recruitment Rob Scutt on player recruitment and squad planning this summer.

His appointment marks a return to English football for the first time since leaving Manchester United two years ago.

McClaren had served as Erik ten Hag’s assistant at Old Trafford between 2022 and 2024.

Meanwhile, he had been out of work after leaving his role as manager of Jamaica in November.

Rotherham relegated

Rotherham will play in League Two for the first time since 2013 next term having finished 23rd in League One, 11 points from safety.

This is their second relegation in three seasons.

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Their promotion from League Two in 2013 was the first of five promotions and five relegations in the last 13 years.

Rotherham had been playing in the Championship as recently as two years ago before dropping to the fourth-tier.

McClaren’s coaching career

As for McClaren, he has previously held a similar role during his time at Derby County.

After returning to the Rams in 2020, he worked as both technical director and management advisor at the club.

McClaren’s coaching career also spans 34 years, having worked with Oxford United, Derby, Man United and England before his first senior managerial role.

Since taking charge of Middlesbrough in 2001, he has also had spells at Nottingham Forest, Newcastle United and Queens Park Rangers.

PA

Meanwhile, McClaren has worked overseas with Wolfsburg, FC Twente and Maccabi Tel Aviv.

As well as winning the Dutch title with Twente, McClaren lifted the League Cup with Boro in 2004, the club’s first major trophy.

McClaren also guided Middlesbrough to the UEFA Cup final in 2006 before taking on the England job.

However, he was sacked by the Three Lions after failing to qualify for Euro 2008.