Strong September sunshine is beating against the windows at Newcastle United’s training centre, when the conversation switches to Monday’s weather forecast for east London. “I hope it’s dry,” says Steve McClaren, his thoughts turning to that wet November night at Wembley in 2007 and a rather smart Football Association issue umbrella.
Combined with a 3-2 win for Slaven Bilic’s Croatia and England’s failure to qualify for Euro 2008, his decision to seek shelter beneath it represented a quick witted headline writer’s dream. By the time the clock struck midnight, the soon-to-be-removed national coach had become “the Wally with the Brolly.”
Seven years on and now managing Newcastle, he can, finally, laugh about it – but it is safe to assume he will not be taking a rain hat, let alone an umbrella, to Upton Park for his first competitive reunion with Bilic.
The intervening years have seen West Ham United’s manager establish a strong rapport with McClaren, their bond formed when the Croat made a point of seeking the Yorkshireman out during a scouting trip to Wolfsburg.
“I tried to poison Slaven’s food, I tried to trip him up,” jokes the 54-year-old. “No, he was very humble and gracious. He spoke very well. We know it’s sport, it’s not life or death – although it nearly was for me that night!
“We get on very well, we’ve the same passion for football. Slaven’s a good man, a good coach, a good manager – and I think a perfect fit for West Ham. He’s a fantastic character.
“He came over to Wolfsburg and that was the kind of kiss and make up. He’s been very good to me since. He’s a gentleman and a typical Croat. He’s passionate about creating very good teams wherever he goes.”
Since that rainy Wembley evening McClaren has won the Dutch title at FC Twente as well as managing Wolfsburg, Nottingham Forest and Derby, while Bilic found life tough with Lokomotiv Moscow before winning more friends than prizes at Turkey’s Besiktas.
The pair are now implementing cultural change at West Ham and Newcastle, endeavouring to replace some of the long balls favoured by Sam Allardyce and Alan Pardew with a more attractive brand of passing and movement.
“It [England v Croatia] seems a lifetime ago,” says McClaren, who, despite still seeking his first Premier League win at Newcastle, has received a warm welcome from fans encouraged by early season performances. “But Croatia had a very good team then and they deserved to go on and qualify.”
Like Bilic, he has subsequently built exciting sides, most notably at Twente and Derby. “I’ve most definitely changed since 2007,” says the man who had previously enjoyed success managing Middlesbrough. “Otherwise I’d be in trouble.
“They say what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger and the Croatia game did nearly kill me, but I survived. It wasn’t a good night. But it wasn’t about Croatia or Slaven, it was about England and myself.
“It was the lowest I got. But you need these things and they happen for a reason. You either slink off or try to come back with more of a determination. It was very, very easy to want to prove people wrong – although it was difficult to get a job.”
Bilic was appalled by McClaren’s vilification. “Of course I felt sympathy for Steve because I know how it works,” says West Ham’s manager, who could recall the newly fit former Newcastle striker Andy Carroll. “We played really well. England came back to 2-2 and then we scored again. But Steve recovered really well. He was brave enough and had enough quality to prove himself in different leagues. Now he’s back in the Premier League and I’m glad for him.”
Despite Newcastle having scored only twice in the first four Premier League games, Tyneside optimism remains intact and fans at St James’ Park cheered McClaren’s team off after a spirited 1-0 defeat by Arsenal shaped by Aleksandar Mitrovic’s early dismissal.
“Not many teams will get the reception we did after losing at home,” acknowledges McClaren. “We have to keep showing that spirit, togetherness and fight. For various reasons it will be slow but there’s a transition here, it’s about trying to change the culture and environment in the club and the city. There was a lot of suspicion around everything and we’re trying to dispel that suspicion.”
The goals shortage remains a concern. “I think we’re all going ‘is that going to be a problem this year?’” he concedes. “It won’t be answered until we’ve played a few more games. I think we’ve got players here that can score, not just strikers but wide players. Ayoze Pérez, Florian Thauvin and Moussa Sissoko and Gini Wijnaldum can score from midfield; we’re just not seeing it at the moment.”
