• Chelsea manager says McClaren benefited from time abroad
• Working overseas is a ‘fantastic experience’, says Mourinho
Steve McClaren led FC Twente to the Dutch title after being sacked as England manager. Photograph: Koen Van Weel/EPA
José Mourinho believes more English managers should follow Steve McClaren‘s lead and manage abroad. Mourinho, whose Chelsea side visit McClaren’s Derby County in the third round of the FA Cup on Sunday afternoon, described working in another country as a “fantastic experience” and said the former England manager has benefited from spells in Holland and Germany.
McClaren suffered a blow to his reputation when England failed to qualify for Euro 2008 and he has not managed in the Premier League since leaving Middlesbrough to take the national job in 2006. Instead, after being sacked by England, he joined FC Twente in 2008 and won the club’s first league title in his second season in Holland. McClaren then had brief and unsuccessful spells at Wolfsburg, where he became the first Englishman to manage in Germany, and Nottingham Forest.
After a second spell at Twente last season, McClaren joined Harry Redknapp’s coaching staff at Queens Park Rangers, before replacing Nigel Clough at Derby in September. Mourinho is impressed with the way the 52-year-old dealt with his England experience.
“I think Steve is a very intelligent guy,” the Chelsea manager said. “I think he moved on, went to Holland, Germany, new cultures and new football. To go abroad is a fantastic experience and sometimes it looks like English players and managers don’t like to go abroad. He had that experience, for sure it was a great one as it was completely different cultures to England in terms of football. He came back with a little Harry in QPR and now Derby.”
Mourinho is critical of the lack of opportunities given to homegrown coaches in this country, but said they could use that to their advantage. “I just think we have to look for markets,” he said. “We have to open markets not just for ourselves but for other people. I disagree with so many foreign coaches in this country.
“But I think if there are no jobs in the country as a manager or a player, then you have to go. This is a short professional life so go and enjoy, and you always have the chance to come back as a manager and a player. People shouldn’t be afraid to be a bit adventurous like other nationalities are. Football is the same everywhere. Eleven against 11, one ball, two goals.”
McClaren has led Derby to fourth in the Championship, three points off the automatic promotion places, and it is perhaps a surprise that he has not been offered another chance in the Premier League. But Mourinho said managing in the Championship has its perks.
“Sometimes it is better to go to the Championship than go to the Premier League and be in a team without lots of problems, a team fighting relegation or fighting for one point to survive,” he said. “Probably it is Derby doing that job in a calm way. If they don’t reach the Premier League this season, probably they will try the next season and he can be in a calm way preparing Derby’s future. Maybe it is a better choice than to go to the Premier League.”
Mourinho clearly rates McClaren, which is why the young Chelsea striker Patrick Bamford joined Derby on loan for the rest of the season on Friday.
“We want our players on loan to play and develop,” Mourinho said. “We don’t want our players on loan to go and not play, or play a style of football that is contradictory to what we have here. With Steve, I’m comfortable for my players to be there because I know basically the way he thinks about football.”