Steve McClaren finally gets something right on England with an endorsement for former Chelsea boss Guus Hiddink as next manager
Ex-Manchester United coach gets over Iceland commentary gaffe to back experienced Dutchman to rebuild Three Lions
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GUUS HIDDINK’S chances of getting the England job might have been boosted by a ringing endorsement from former Three Lions boss Steve McClaren.
After Roy Hodgson scurried out after the Euro 2016 fiasco against Iceland, there is a vacancy in football's hottest seat.
And McClaren believes the former Chelsea and Russia boss would be man to rebuild the shattered national team.
The Dutchman had a nightmare with the Netherlands in his last post as he failed to guide them to Euro 2016 despite the competition being extended to 24 teams.
But his vast experience, big-tournament nous and personable approach are helping his name creep up the list of candidates.
With international minnows South Korea he got to the semi-finals of the 2000 World Cup, beating Portugal, Poland and Spain on the way.
He also took Australia – a nation not famous for their footballing prowess at the time - to the 2006 World Cup.
And he worked his wonders on Russia by getting them to the semi-finals of Euro 2008.
When he left Chelsea at the end of his second stint in May – after steadying the ship after Jose Mourinho’s catastrophic return – he said he was only interested in national team football at the ripe age of 69.
And McClaren, whose occasional Dutch accent is about the only thing he has in common with the master tactician, has backed the old master
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The ex-Manchester United coach got over his Iceland punditry shambles by saying: “I've no problem with young English managers but this job is for an experienced manager who knows what tournament football is all about.
"It takes European experience; someone in the ilk of a Guus Hiddink - potentially even short-term - perhaps.
"I think we have the raw material to work with, I just think we've failed when it coming to how to win football matches; coaching players how to win, how to take risks.
"Certain issues will need to be addressed by the FA when it comes to coaching courses. The next manager coming in will need a lot of help."
There is a danger, however, that Roman Abramovic and Vladimir Putin could wreck England’s master plan.
Chelsea and Russia have shared the sought-after boss in the past and he has revealed – after they stunk out the Euros in England’s Group B – he could return to help the team and nation’s image around the world.
He told Dutch broadcaster NOS. “If I can make a contribution, I'll will be happy to do so.
“Russia sit in a particularly complicated situation, not only in the sporting arena but also in terms of their image.
“Sport can help them, although it is perhaps my idealistic thinking, to project a better image out to the world.”