Former England manager Steve McClaren was sacked Monday by Wolfsburg with the Bundesliga team hovering above the relegation zone.
A little more than a year ago, Twente Enschede manager and England native Steve McClaren became an unwitting YouTube star when he adopted a strange, affected Dutch accent in an (ostensibly) English TV interview with a local station. There were initial fears that the former England manager might try out a mock German inflection in his new role at VfL Wolfsburg as well, but in fact, his tenure has brought about lingual confusion of the opposite kind: an increasing number of "Wolves" supporters have taken to voicing their frustrations in English, with somewhat mixed results.
Wolfsburg threw away a three-goal lead and three points against Mainz, Saturday, as Steve McClaren's team went down 4-3 in a pulsating match at the Volkswagen Arena.
The Bundesliga's 48th season kicks off on Friday night, when defending champion Bayern Munich meets 2008-09 winner VfL Wolfsburg, now coached by Steve McClaren. Here is a (moderately) educated guess as to how the 18 teams might finish -- subject to some last-minute wheeling and dealing, naturally:
The 48th season of the Bundesliga will commence this week with champions Bayern Munich looking to defend their title against Steve McClaren's Wolfsburg.
Premier League Arsenal have been handed an intriguing Champions League third qualifying round tie against FC Twente who are managed by former England coach Steve McClaren.
Former England manager Steve McClaren has signed a two-year contract to take charge of Dutch first division club Twente Enschede.
David Beckham will captain England in their friendly game against Trinidad and Tobago in the Port of Spain on Sunday.
Fabio Capello has been installed as the new favorite to succeed Steve McClaren as England manager.
The divide between club and country is the defining fault line of the modern game. In England in 2007, the divide is more pronounced than ever.
Also in this column: • EPL clubs rock Champions League • Readers' picks for Prem. champion
Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson says his former number two Steve McClaren was sacked with indecent haste and whoever succeeds him as England coach has a "near-impossible job."
Blackburn manager Mark Hughes signed a new contract on Friday that keeps him at the Premier League club until June 2010 -- and rules him out of contention for the job of England coach.
updated: Thu Nov 22 2007 16:41:00
Steve McClaren axed as England's footbal manager. CNN's Jim Boulden reports.
England coach Steve McClaren has been dismissed in the wake of their humiliating exit from the European Championships following a 3-2 defeat to Croatia at Wembley on Wednesday night.
Croatia demolished England's dreams of a place in the Euro 2008 finals with a dramatic 3-2 triumph at Wembley that sent Russia through as Group E runners-up.
Hours after saluting David Beckham as one of the world's best right-sided midfielders, England coach Steve McClaren left the iconic football star out of their crucial Euro 2008 qualifier against Croatia on Wednesday night.
Croatia coach Slaven Bilic has given his backing to Steve McClaren ahead of Wednesday's do-or-die Euro 2008 qualifier for the England manager.
Tottenham Hotspur striker Darren Bent has been called up by England as a replacement for injured Michael Owen for Wednesday's Euro 2008 qualifying decider against Croatia at Wembley.
Also in this column: • Two-horse race in the Premiership
Stand-in captain Steven Gerrard has backed under pressure England coach Steve McClaren and insists that the players must take responsibility if they fail to qualify for Euro 2008.
Also in this column: • McClaren wastes time in L.A. • Hats off to surprising Rosenborg
Former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has distanced himself from reports claiming that he is favorite to become the next manager of England if Steve McClaren is sacked.
After an awful week in international action, England finds itself in dire straits -- not a bad pun if you're a fan of 1980s classic rock, but not a good place for the national team.
So you didn't see it coming? But the writing was on the wall... England were struggling to hold onto their lead against Russia and it was a matter of time before they conceded a goal and let qualification for Euro 2008 slip between their fingers.
John Terry dealt England's Euro 2008 ambitions a desperate blow on Tuesday when he was all but ruled out of the critical qualifier against Russia on the Luzhniki Stadium's artifical pitch in Moscow.
England coach Steve McClaren has been forced to call up defender Luke Young for Wednesday's vital Euro 2008 qualifier against Russia after Ashley Cole was ruled out.
England maintained their bid for Euro 2008 qualification with a routine 3-0 win over Estonia on Saturday, but had defender Ashley Cole stretchered off in the second half at Wembley.
England manager Steve McClaren has challenged Wayne Rooney to show that he can achieve his potential as a world-class player.
England skipper John Terry has been ruled out of Saturday's Euro 2008 qualifier with Estonia because of a knee injury.
England coach Steve McClaren has warned his players that they should concentrate on Saturday's Euro 2008 qualifier with Estonia at Wembley and not get distracted by their forthcoming trip to Russia.
West Ham striker Dean Ashton has quickly come into the reckoning for a return to England's international squad, after coming back from a long injury layoff.
Coach Steve McClaren has given Steven Gerrard a place in England's starting line-up for the crucial Euro 2008 qualifier against Israel at Wembley on Saturday, despite the Liverpool star's much-publicized broken toe.
"He's England's Didier Drogba!" Huh?
England manager Steve McClaren suffered a fresh blow before Saturday's Euro 2008 qualifying match against Israel, when Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves aggravated a hamstring injury.
England coach Steve McClaren has told his players that there can be "no excuses" for failure to reach the 2008 European Championship finals as they prepare for a critical qualifying double at Wembley.
Emile Heskey has been called into England coach Steve McClaren's squad for the Euro 2008 double header with Israel and Russia.
England coach Steve McClaren has surprisingly called up uncapped wingers David Bentley and Ashley Young for England's Euro 2008 qualifiers against Israel and Russia.
England manager Steve McClaren said David Beckham was ready to face Germany at Wembley on Wednesday despite a recent ankle injury and a long-haul flight from the U.S.
Portsmouth central defender Sol Campbell has pulled out of England's squad for the friendly with Germany at Wembley on Wednesday because of a groin injury.
England coach Steve McClaren has recalled Portsmouth veterans Sol Campbell and David James for next Wednesday's friendly against Germany at Wembley.
England manager Steve McClaren has confirmed that he has failed to convince Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher to return to international football.
David Beckham set up two goals to steer England to a morale-boosting 3-0 win over Estonia on Wednesday that put their Euro 2008 qualifying campaign firmly back on track.
David Beckham's return to the English national team for Friday's game against Brazil and next Wednesday's vital Euro 2008 qualifier in Estonia has dominated the headlines this week. The setting couldn't be more fitting: The return of the glamour boy of English football in a glamour friendly against Brazil at the new Wembley Stadium.
England coach Steve McClaren has sent out a defiant message to his detractors, claiming they will not drive him out of the national team post.
Steve McClaren's position as England coach is being made difficult by the "mocking culture" that surrounds the national team, Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson said on Friday.
In the world of sports, "underachiever" is perhaps the most hurtful term you can throw at someone.
Beleaguered England coach Steve McClaren has suffered unfair "personal vilification and abuse", according to Football Association chief executive Brian Barwick.
Steven Gerrard scored twice to spare England's blushes as they stuttered to a 3-0 win over Andorra in a Euro 2008 qualifier that will turn up the pressure on beleaguered coach Steve McClaren.
England coach Steve McClaren has described as "absolutely ridiculous" reports of a dressing-room rift with Wayne Rooney after the goalless draw with Israel on Saturday.
At least there's one man in England brimming with optimism. After disappointing showings in Euro 2008 qualification games against Croatia and tiny Macedonia, the English national team is facing crucial games with Israel and Andorra.
England captain John Terry is determined to erase memories of their "heartbreaking" defeat against Croatia and go all-out for victory over Israel in a crucial Euro 2008 qualifier on Saturday.
England defender Jonathan Woodgate has been ruled out of Saturday's vital Euro 2008 qualifier against Israel because of a knee injury.
England called up Charlton Athletic right back Luke Young on Wednesday following a rash of injuries before their Euro 2008 qualifiers.
England coach Steve McClaren welcomed back Owen Hargreaves and Aaron Lennon to his squad on Friday for their crunch Euro 2008 qualifier in Israel and kept faith with Kieron Dyer.
England manager Steve McClaren has hinted that he may have a change of heart and recall former captain David Beckham to his squad for crucial Euro 2008 qualifiers.
Real Madrid coach Fabio Capello hopes that England manager Steve McClaren will follow his example and recall David Beckham to his squad.
Rookie goalkeeper Ben Foster has been handed his England debut in Wednesday's prestige friendly international against Spain at Old Trafford, Manchester.
England are sweating on Wayne Rooney's fitness for their friendly against Spain on Wednesday and have already lost fellow striker Andy Johnson and defender Wayne Bridge.
Manchester City midfielder Joey Barton has been named in England's squad for the first time for the friendly ainternational against Spain at Old Trafford on Wednesday.
Teenage defender Micah Richards will make his England debut and striker Andy Johnson will get a rare start in their friendly against the Netherlands, coach Steve McClaren has revealed.
Defender Gary Neville heads a list of eight players who have pulled out of England's squad to face the Netherlands in Amsterdam on Wednesday.
Goalkeeper Jens Lehmann will miss Germany's Euro 2008 qualifier away to Cyprus on Wednesday because of a heavy cold, while midfielders Bernd Schneider and Piotr Trochowski are doubtful with injuries.
Wingers Joe Cole and Aaron Lennon have returned to the England fold on Friday in coach Steve McClaren's 28-man squad for their friendly in the Netherlands next week.
England manager Steve McClaren has decided not to ahead with a planned trip to the United States next week, when he was going to look at coaching methods in American football's NFL.
England defender Ledley King has pulled out of the squad to face Croatia in Wednesday's Euro 2008 qualifier because of a knee injury.
England were held to a disappointing 0-0 draw at home to Macedonia and missed the chance to pull clear at the top of Euro 2008 Group E.
Coach Steve McClaren has told his England team he expects a much better performance against Macedonia at Old Trafford on Saturday than in their nervy 1-0 win over them last month in Skopje.
Newcastle United midfielder Scott Parker has been recalled by England coach Steve McClaren for next month's Euro 2008 qualifiers against Macedonia and Croatia.
Former England captain David Beckham has said he will fight to win back his international place after being dropped by new manager Steve McClaren following this year's World Cup.
England coach Steve McClaren is optimistic that center-back Rio Ferdinand will return to the side when they face Macedonia in a tough Euro 2008 qualifier on Wednesday.
England opened their Euro 2008 qualifying campaign with a 5-0 victory over Andorra in a one-sided Group E game at Old Trafford on Saturday.
Everton striker Andy Johnson has been recalled by England coach Steve McClaren for next month's Euro 2008 Group E qualifiers against Andorra and Macedonia.
England's new captain John Terry headed home a 14th minute goal to send new coach Steve McClaren's team on their way to a convincing 4-0 victory over European champions Greece at Old Trafford, Manchester.
West Ham United striker Dean Ashton broke an ankle training with England on Tuesday to end his hopes of an international debut in Wednesday's friendly international against Greece.
Terry Venables is returning to coach England again as assistant to new national manager Steve McClaren, 10 years after losing the top job himself.
David Beckham was dropped when new England coach Steve McClaren named his first squad on Friday, for next week's friendly against European champions Greece.
Teenage forward Theo Walcott, an unused member of England's World Cup squad under Sven-Goran Eriksson, has been passed over by new coach Steve McClaren and picked for the Under-21s.
Former England striker Alan Shearer has turned down the chance to be part of new manager Steve McClaren's coaching staff with the national team.
Premiership side Middlesbrough are about to name former England national team coach Terry Venables as their new manager, according to press reports. .
Steve McClaren has been confirmed as England's new national manager.
Middlesbrough manager Steve McClaren will be named Sven-Goran Eriksson's successor as England coach by the end of the week, newspaper reports said on Monday.
Luiz Felipe Scolari's shock withdrawal from the race to become England coach has turned the spotlight firmly back on Steve McClaren to succeed Sven-Goran Eriksson.
Luiz Felipe Scolari's withdrawal from the race to become England's next manager has renewed criticism of the Football Association and led to fresh calls for an Englishman to be appointed.
Two goals in three minutes at the end of the first half gave Swiss champions Basel a 2-0 win over Middlesbrough in their UEFA Cup quarterfinal first leg.
Steve McClaren has signed a new four-year deal to keep him as manager of Premier League strugglers Middlesbrough.
Middlesbrough have granted a transfer request from their Australian goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, the English Premiership side confirmed on Friday.
Premier League Newcastle United have suffered a fresh injury setback with midfielder Scott Parker ruled out of action for a month after having knee surgery.
Brazilian striker Ailton is leaving German title runners-up Schalke 04 for Besiktas after one season at the Bundesliga club.
Nigeria striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni is joining Middlesbrough from Premier League rivals Portsmouth for 6.5 million pounds ($12m), it was announced on Monday.
Middlesbrough striker Mark Viduka will be sidelined for the rest of the season because of a persistent hamstring injury.
Middlesbrough striker Mark Viduka has been ruled out of action at least until the end of January with a hamstring injury.
Middlesbrough manager Steve McClaren has been charged with improper conduct over his behavior towards a match official during Sunday's 2-0 defeat at Tottenham.
Newly-signed Middlesbrough defender Michael Reiziger will be out for up to eight weeks with an injured shoulder that needs surgery.
Middlesbrough captain Gareth Southgate has extended his contract with the Teeside club by two years.
Steve McClaren is rejoining the England coaching staff for Euro 2004 to replace assistant coach Brian Kidd who is recovering after prostate cancer surgery.
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