Middlesbrough manager Steve McClaren has extended his contract with the Premier League club until 2009. McClaren joined Boro in 2001 after working as assistant to Alex Ferguson at Manchester United. He was the first manager in Boro's history to win a major trophy with their 2004 League Cup triumph.

"We've come a long way over the past four years or so and the League Cup and qualifying again for Europe have been real highlights," McClaren said yesterday.

"But I want to build on that and see just how far we can go. Middlesbrough is a club going places so it was never even a question of whether or not I wanted to stay."

The 44-year-old combines his role at Boro with being number two to England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson.

McClaren has been seen as a possible successor to Ferguson at Old Trafford where he helped the club secure the Champions League, three league titles and the FA Cup.

UK Soccer Results

The Championship: Cardiff vs Brighton 1-1; Crystal Palace vs Coventry 2-0; Hull vs Southampton 1-1; Ipswich vs Reading 0-3; Leeds vs Burnley 2-0; Leicester vs Watford 2-2; Luton vs Crewe 4-1; Millwall vs Norwich 1-0; QPR vs Preston 0-2; Sheffield Wed. vs Plymouth 0-0; Stoke vs Derby 1-2; Wolves vs Sheffield United 0-0.

Scottish Division Two: Ayr vs Raith 2-1.

Scottish FA Cup first round: Stenhousemuir vs East Stirling pp. First round replay - Albion vs Partick 1-3.

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