FC Twente coach Steve McClaren admits Everton beat him to signing former Manchester United utility Phil Neville when he was in charge of Middlesbrough.

McClaren told evertonfc.com: "I love Phil and I would have loved to have signed him at Middlesbrough. He's a great lad, a great professional and an ideal captain. When you want someone to epitomise what you stand for - professionalism, hard work, great attitude - Phil Neville has got that.

"I thought he was a great signing by Moyes."