Derby County Announce Steve McClaren As Their New Manager

Derby County is pleased to announce the appointment of Steve McClaren as their new manager.

McClaren, 55, has signed a contract which will run until the end of the 2017/18 season to return for his second spell in charge of the Rams.

Assistant Manager Chris Powell, First Team Coach Kevin Phillips and Goalkeeping Coach Pascal Zuberbuhler will all retain their places within McClaren’s backroom team.

McClaren’s previous spell in the Derby hotseat came between September 2013 and May 2015, during which time he guided the Rams to the 2014 Championship Play-Off Final.

Playing an exciting and attacking brand of football, Derby finished third in the Championship in 2013/14, achieving a record points total and a record number of goals scored in a season.

In total, McClaren oversaw 95 games in charge of the Rams and achieved a win percentage of 54%, with 51 wins and 22 draws.

McClaren played for Derby between 1985 and 1988 and was a Second Division title-winner. After embarking on his coaching career in the 1990s, he also tasted success as Jim Smith’s assistant during the Rams’ promotion campaign to the top flight in the 1995/96 season.

McClaren will oversee his first game back in charge when Derby take on Leeds United at the iPro Stadium on Saturday afternoon in the Sky Bet Championship.

Derby County’s President & Chief Executive Sam Rush said: “We are delighted that Steve McClaren has agreed to re-join us as our manager.

“We enjoyed some fantastic and memorable moments under Steve during his previous tenure in charge.

“Steve’s arrival and subsequent work helped transform how we played our football. Steve’s time at Derby came to a premature end and I know he regrets that greatly. He values hugely his relationship with our supporters and I know that he will work very hard to ensure that the special connection returns.

“When we sat down as a board to begin the process of appointing a new manager it was apparent, as the architect of our style of football, that Steve was a prime candidate. Mel Morris, our Chairman, is clear about the plan for Derby County and we strongly believe that with Chris Powell, alongside Steve, we can ensure a successful future ahead.”

Speaking about his appointment, McClaren said: “I am excited to be back at Derby County as the club’s manager.

“I have a great affiliation with the club, having been here on three previous occasions, and I am really delighted at the prospect of finishing what we started back in September 2013.

“I regret how my time at Derby ended back in 2015 and I am very motivated to put things right for the club and our supporters.

“My ultimate aspiration remains exactly what it was before, to take Derby County back to the Premier League.

“This football club has fantastic ambition, brilliant supporters and wonderful backing from the Chairman Mel Morris. I am looking forward to working alongside Mel, as well as Sam Rush who initially brought me back here in 2013. Sam and I worked very well together previously and I am certain we can pick up where we left off.

“For me, it was vitally important that Chris Powell and the existing team remained on the coaching staff. When I was assistant to Jim Smith in the 1990s, Chris was part of the squad and a key player for us.

“He had a fine playing career, being capped by England as well as enjoying many years in the Premier League, so to have someone as talented as him as my assistant is really important.”