Former Middlesbrough and England boss Steve McClaren has rebuilt his career in Holland with FC Twente.

Twente are second to AZ Alkmaar in the league table and, last Wednesday, reached the semi-finals of the Dutch Cup.

Tonight they should confirm their position with victory over former champions PSV Eindhoven. Now McClaren has received the ultimate accolade - a favourable mention in Cruyff's weekly football column.

McClaren told the Mail on Sunday: "Someone at the club came up the other day and said: 'You must be doing well'.

"I asked: 'Why?' He said: 'Well Johan Cruyff is talking about you'.

"Cruyff, of course, loves the total Dutch football. The 4-3-3. Apparently, he said that it's great to see FC Twente playing the Dutch way. I asked if that was good? And I was told: 'Bloody hell! Of course it is'."