McClaren signs Boro deal

Middlesbrough manager Steve McClaren has signed a new contract with the club which will run until 2009.

McClaren is also one of England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson’s assistants and has been tipped to succeed the Swede at some stage, but today’s announcement underlines the faith Boro chairman Steve Gibson has in him.

The former Derby and Manchester United coach led Middlesbrough to a Carling Cup triumph in 2003, the club’s first major trophy in 128 years of existence to that point.

They played European football for the first time as a result and qualified for the UEFA Cup again last season by finishing seventh in the Barclays Premiership.