Former England manager Steve McClaren has been appointed coach of FC Twente, the Dutch club said on Friday.
The 47-year-old, sacked as England coach last year after failing to qualify for the Euro 2008 finals, has agreed a two-year contract, according to the club's Web site (www.fctwente.nl).
McClaren will succeed Fred Rutten, who helped FC Twente qualify for the preliminary rounds of the Champions League.
The club, from the eastern town of Enschede, beat Ajax Amsterdam in the playoffs shortly before Rutten left for German Bundesliga club Schalke 04.
"It is a big challenge for me to compete with FC Twente in the Dutch league and the Champions League and I have the feeling we all will start the season with a positive feeling," McClaren said in a statement.
Twente chairman Joop Munsterman said McClaren was the right man to succeed Rutten. "It is important that FC Twente's technical policy will be continued," he said.
