McClaren bows out with final swansong

Newly-appointed England manager Steve McClaren hopes to leave Middlesbrough on a high when his side take on Spain's Sevilla in the UEFA Cup final in Eindhoven today.

Steve McClaren, announced last week as Sven-Goran Eriksson's successor after the World Cup finals, takes charge of Middlesbrough for the final time in the biggest match in the provincial English club's 130-year history.

"We have enjoyed some marvellous occasions and Boro will always remain close to my heart," said McClaren, who tasted a European triumph in 1999 when he was assistant to Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.

"I'm so pleased I was able to deliver success to Middlesbrough because everyone, especially the fans, deserves it.

"Every effort will be made to ensure we end my time as Boro manager with some glory. That would be the perfect ending for me, and a wonderful platform to take the club forward into the future."

Both sides, outsiders at the start of the tournament, are in their first Euro final.

Sevilla, destined for a top-six finish again in the Primera Liga in their centenary season, last won a trophy in 1948 while Boro's only major prize came two years ago when they lifted the League Cup.

Boro's path to the final in only their second season of European competition has been spectacular. Twice they produced four-goal comebacks at their Riverside stadium when they seemed dead and buried.

Forgotten Italian striker Massimo Maccarone wrote himself into Boro folklore when he scored last-minute goals in the quarter-final win over Basel and semi-final victory over Steaua Bucharest.

Despite his heroics, Maccarone will find himself on the bench again although Boro have injury doubts about Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.

The Dutchman has been in prolific form, scoring 14 goals since the turn of the year, but is trying to shrug off a hamstring injury picked up in the second leg against Steaua.

McClaren will hope Hasselbaink can shake off the knock as Nigerian striker Yakubu has been without a goal for more than two months.

Hasselbaink, out of contract next month, has revelled in Boro's cup exploits.

"Maybe you have to be a little mad to play for this Middlesbrough side. You have to believe the impossible is possible. If you believe in miracles, a game is never lost," he said.

Boro captain Gareth Southgate is also battling to shake off a troublesome hamstring injury.

Both coaches must coax one last big effort out of tired legs. The final will be Boro's 22nd game since the start of March and their 64th of a long and demanding season.

Sevilla, who have consolidated well since coach Juande Ramos replaced Joaquin Caparros at the end of last season, have proved a tough nut to crack in the tournament, putting out Lokomotiv Moscow, Lille, Zenit St Petersburg and Schalke 04 in the knockout rounds.

The Andalucians lost Brazilian striker Julio Baptista to Real Madrid but the loan acquisition of Argentine Javier Saviola, along with Mali international Frederic Kanoute, has proved fruitful.

Saviola has thrived after making a fresh start on a season-long loan from Barcelona and has six UEFA Cup goals to his name.

"The team is quietly confident. After all the effort we have put into the campaign to reach the final, winning the Cup would be a just reward," he said.

"Both sides have important players but we want to impose ourselves on them as a team, and take the game to them in the final."

Kanoute, who has a thigh injury, has been included in the squad along with Serbian defender Ivica Dragutinovic who is battling a knee injury.

Sevilla have already faced English opposition in this season's tournament, drawing 1-1 away at Bolton Wanderers in their final group-stage game.

Today's match is the first of two Anglo-Spanish European finals with Arsenal taking on Barcelona in the Champions League showpiece next Wednesday.

Recent finals