Steve McClaren will be the next England manager, the Football Association said yesterday.

The Middlesbrough manager will take over when Sven-Goran Eriksson steps down after the World Cup finals in Germany.

McClaren's appointment comes six days after Luiz Felipe Scolari, the FA's first choice to succeed Eriksson, pulled out of the running because of media intrusion.

McClaren was 45 on Wednesday and is Eriksson's assistant.

"This is the biggest honour that any coach can have and is obviously the highlight of my career," said McClaren, who has signed a four-year contract from August 1, taking him up to the 2010 World Cup.

"It's a massive challenge and one that I welcome. I have hugely enjoyed my time at Middlesbrough and am very grateful to the club. However, this was an opportunity I couldn't refuse."

Eriksson said: "I have worked closely with Steve ever since I came to England and know how good a coach he is. He is well-liked and well-respected by the players and staff.

"I have no doubt that he has all the credentials to be very successful in the job and wish him all the best."

McClaren secured the top job after seeing off English coaches Sam Allardyce and Alan Curbishley, plus Northern Irishman Martin O'Neill.

After an undistinguished playing career as a midfielder, McClaren began coaching in the early 1990s at Oxford United.

He moved on to Derby County where he worked under experienced manager Jim Smith and helped the club win promotion to the Premier League in 1996.

McClaren, his reputation growing fast, was then lured to Manchester United as Alex Ferguson's deputy and helped the club win the treble of European Cup, Premier League and FA Cup in 1999.

While at United, following Kevin Keegan's resignation as England manager in 2000, McClaren joined forces with Peter Taylor in temporary charge of the national team.

In March 2001, United refused to allow him to continue with England and later that year he was appointed Middlesbrough's manager in succession to Bryan Robson.

McClaren gave Boro a prolonged period of stability and in 2004 he enjoyed a double boost, returning to the England ranks to assist Eriksson and steering Middlesbrough to success in the League Cup, their first major trophy in 128 years.

McClaren's status was further enhanced when Middlesbrough finished seventh in the league last year, their best finish since 1951 and securing a second successive season in Europe.

This season has been a rollercoaster for McClaren.

A host of injuries to key players and a 7-0 defeat at Arsenal in mid-January left him at rock bottom.

But a 3-0 win over champions Chelsea sparked a spectacular revival in fortunes and the club reached the FA Cup semi-finals and next week's UEFA Cup final against Sevilla.

Boro looked dead and buried early in the second legs of both their quarter- and semi-final in the UEFA Cup before McClaren substituted defenders with attackers and saw his side produce four-goal comebacks in both games to go through.

List of England managers since 1946...

1946-62: Walter Winterbottom
England play 139 matches - win 78, draw 33, lose 28

1963-74: Alf Ramsey
England play 113 matches - win 69, draw 27 and lose 17

1974-77: Don Revie
England play 29 matches - win 14, draw eight, lose seven

1977-82: Ron Greenwood
England play 55 matches - win 33, draw 12, lose 10

1982-90: Bobby Robson
England play 95 matches - win 47, draw 30, lose 18

1990-93: Graham Taylor
England play 38 matches - win 18, draw 13, lose seven.

1994-96: Terry Venables
England play 23 matches - win 11, draw 11, lose one.

1996-99: Glenn Hoddle
England play 28 matches - win 17, draw six, lose five.

99-2000: Kevin Keegan
England play 18 matches - win seven, draw seven, lose four.

01-2006: Sven-Goran Eriksson
England play 60 matches - win 35, draw 15, lose 10.

Steve McClaren said he was the proudest man in the country after being named as the next England manager.

"I've had many great moments in football in my career but that has to be the greatest - I'm very, very proud," he said. "I've got the experience... I like a challenge and this is one of the biggest challenges in my career."

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