Steve McClaren: Former England and Newcastle boss aims to be the Master after enrolling as mature student for Sport Directorship degree
Former Newcastle and England boss planning for life after management at Manchester Metropolitan University alongside host of other football faces
WITH his pen, notepad and textbook, he could pass off as any other mature student.
Only this is not just another university starter - but a former England manager.
And he has decided to go back into the classroom to help his bid to go back into a dugout.
It has been six months since Steve McClaren was sacked by Newcastle - the longest period he has spent out of work since he lost his Three Lions job in November 2007.
And he is filling his time by studying for a Masters in sport directorship at Manchester Metropolitan University, where SunSport paid him a visit during his induction week.
The two-year, part-time degree, which Blackpool boss Gary Bowyer and retired players Steve Harper and Kevin Davies are also enrolled on, aims to equip students with the skills required to work at boardroom level of a football club or sports organisation.
Steve Round, who was a coach under McClaren at Middlesbrough, England and Derby, has just graduated from the course and been appointed as Aston Villa’s technical director.
But while McClaren is keen on working in a similar role to his pal Round in the future, for now he hopes this degree will impress employers as he looks to make a managerial return.
The Yorkshireman, 55, explained: “I’m just expanding my toolkit - getting to understand the game more in terms of the board and financial side of a football club.
“Then you can look at the club as a whole rather than just what happens on the field.
"I’ve always been a reader and studier, looking at fresh ideas, especially in between jobs.
“I did at six-day intensive leadership course at the London Business School in the summer which was excellent.
“And I wanted to follow that up and do a degree of some sort - an actual Masters that employers can look at and say, ‘Well, he’s taken the time and had the discipline and commitment to do that’.
“Eventually in the future, I’d definitely be interested in being a technical or sporting director.
“But this is just about me having the expertise and tools to be able to help a club run effectively when I next get into one - and be able to give owners damn good advice.”
McClaren, who describes his current employment status as “freelance”, is juggling his studies with media work, visits to matches and coaching seminars.
Yet there is no doubt he longs to be back on the touchline, as he said: “I’m still in football and I’m just as busy.
“But I’m not busy with trying to win games on a Saturday, which you do miss.
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“At the right time, with the right club, of course I want to get back in.
“I’m still relatively young. I’ve still got energy and still got a lot to offer.
“I would go abroad again. I’ve had opportunities to speak to people, but they’ve been outside of Europe - China, Saudi Arabia, Egypt.
“I’m not interested in that - it’s either Europe or England.
“It all depends on the opportunity and a good project, which would match my skills, knowledge and ambitions - and help a club to achieve what it wants to.”
That was not something McClaren was able to do in his nine months at Newcastle, where he won just six of his 28 Premier League games in charge, with the club going on to be relegated.
But he does not believe he is now damaged goods because of his time on Tyneside.
McClaren explained: “Within football, people know me well and know what I can and can’t do.
“Perception on the outside - the media and fans - can always be different without knowing the full facts.
"I don't regret taking the Newcastle job because it is such a great club and everybody can see the potential - that is why Rafa Benitez has gone there.
"But for me, it was just a massive, massive frustration with what was going on and what needed to be put right to get it back to what it can be.
“They have made the right move now with Rafa.
"He has taken full control - he is the coach, manager, technical director, head of recruitment. That’s how it should be.
“There is a transparency there now with the media and everybody, which wasn’t there before - not just last year but in previous years.
“The whole perception of the club is changing, and that’s what it absolutely needed.
“We knew that last year, but unfortunately I wasn’t given the time or the opportunity.
“That for me is the frustration - not being able to ultimately turn it around how I would want it and how it is now."
Still, McClaren insists his Toon tenure was not as bruising as his England experience, of which he admitted a year ago: "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger - and it did nearly kill me."
This summer, though, the Three Lions didn’t kill him but made him an internet sensation.
McClaren was analysing England’s Euro 2016 last-16 tie with Iceland for Sky Sports News when he froze live on air as the minnows went 2-1 up, just after he was praising Roy Hodgson’s side’s dominance.
The video went viral, and he smiled: “That’s what you get, that’s live media! That’s the beauty of it.
“It was strange watching that and the way it developed.
“We were all in shock - not just during the game, but after the game and obviously the events after that.”
Those events saw Hodgson quit and Sam Allardyce appointed as England boss - the man McClaren beat to the post ten years ago.
And McClaren added: “I think Sam deserved it. He stayed in the game, got his opportunity and I think he will do well.
“I’m pleased it’s an Englishman as well. English coaches haven’t got a good reputation in Europe and I think that has to change.”
OTHER STUDENTS ON WHY THEY ARE DOING THE COURSE
Gary Bowyer - Blackpool manager
"IT IS a massive learning opportunity for me.
"There are loads of ideas already in terms of leadership and how I can apply that to Blackpool and managing the players.
"My challenge will be balancing studying with managing.
"But we played Yeovil away the other week and that took us six hours on a bus - so there is plenty of reading time for me!"
Kevin Davies - ex-England and Bolton striker
"I HAVE been retired a year now and I’m looking for a job and a role.
"Working within the structure of a football club or a different business maybe, is something that would excite me.
"I’ve thought about management as well. I’m just about to pass my A licence.
"But I’m not 100 per cent sure what I want to do, and it is getting to the point where I’m looking to get back into it.
"This course is another string to my bow."