Steve McClaren is glad to see former club Middlesbrough back in the top flight

Middlesbrough travel to Sunderland on Super Sunday for a fixture they’ve not won since 2006. Steve McClaren was the manager back then and Adam Bate caught up with him to get his thoughts on that time and reflect on Boro’s Premier League return…

Middlesbrough's return to the Premier League after seven seasons in the second tier brings back memories of their previous top-flight run. In 2004, Boro won their only major trophy to date, beating Bolton in the League Cup final, and the following season they finished seventh - the club's joint-best league finish since 1951. In 2006, they reached a European final.

The man at the helm for all of those achievements was McClaren. It earned him a crack at the England job and there have been many highs and lows for him since - from a Dutch title with FC Twente in 2010, to the sack at Newcastle last season. But the former Manchester United assistant's managerial journey began at Boro.

"It was kind of my breakthrough, going from a number two to a number one," McClaren tells Sky Sports. "Sir Alex was retiring (he later abandoned the plan to quit in 2001) and we didn't know who was going to take over. He just said that if there was an opportunity this might be the right time to do it. He gave the green light, otherwise I wouldn't have left.

Middlesbrough players celebrate winning the 2004 League Cup final

"But I always wanted to be a number one and have a go. You can go on all sorts of courses and be an assistant here there and everywhere but it never prepares you for sitting in the seat and being a manager. It's completely different. It was very hard. I always tell my assistants now, stick to being a number two because it's the best job in the world."

It didn't take McClaren long to get a taste of the pressure. Boro lost their first four games with a 4-1 home defeat to Newcastle adding to the intensity. "I'll always remember what a difficult start we had," recalls McClaren. "I was 'pointless and clueless' after the first four games. I was getting a lot of criticism and it was a very, very tough first six months.

"But Steve Gibson was an absolutely incredible chairman. During the five years we had together, there were two or three times where he could very easily have sacked me. But he stuck by me and I think in the end we worked well together. We provided some success for Middlesbrough, culminating in that UEFA Cup final."

It's telling that while McClaren was the manager, he is quick to give the credit to his chairman. The two men still have a good relationship. "He's built a nice hotel next to the training ground and I'm always down there bumping into him," says McClaren.

We were able to take on the likes of Juninho, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Mark Viduka and Gaizka Mendieta. Steve McClaren

"It was his vision," he adds. "Every year we improved and improved and he provided the resources to do that. Especially in that period where we were able to take on the likes of Juninho, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Mark Viduka and Gaizka Mendieta. We were getting top players costing a lot of money. But he backed us and it was a good period for the club."

The hope on Teesside, of course, is that having been promoted back to the Premier League the next fruitful period is now upon us. "It's good to see them back up," adds McClaren. "I think Aitor Karanka has done a fantastic job but again you have to give a lot of credit to Steve Gibson for picking him and then sticking by him."

Aitor Karanka says he wants Alvaro Negredo to recover his confidence at Boro Aitor Karanka says he wants Alvaro Negredo to recover his confidence at Boro

After a home draw with Stoke on the opening day, Boro's first away trip is to local rivals Sunderland. It's a fixture the club hasn't won since 2006. McClaren was in charge back then. In fact, he won on all three of his trips to Sunderland as Middlesbrough manager. "We always enjoyed it and had a good record there," he recalls.

"It was a bit like with Manchester United because we had some good ones there too. It was just one of those stadiums. I know Sunderland and Newcastle is big but in terms of Middlesbrough games, Sunderland is the closest one. There was always a fantastic atmosphere and it's a great rivalry." On Sunday, that rivalry is renewed.

Noel Whelan beats Thomas Sorensen to score Middlesbrough's winner in 2002

Jan 2002: Sunderland 0-1 Middlesbrough (Whelan)

Boro hauled themselves out of the relegation zone thanks to Noel Whelan's winner at the Stadium of Light. It was a fiercely-fought contest with Gianluca Festa sent off for spitting - much to the annoyance of McClaren. "I'm too angry to even discuss the sending-off," he said afterwards. "It's diabolical, totally unprofessional."

Feb 2003: Sunderland 1-3 Middlesbrough (Riggott 2, Christie)

Chris Riggott and Malcolm Christie each got their first goals for Boro following their arrival from Derby the previous month, with Riggott bagging the only brace of his professional career. The result left Sunderland deep in trouble under Howard Wilkinson and they finished bottom with a paltry 19 points. Boro ended up in 11th.

Emanuel Pogatetz celebrates his goal against Sunderland in 2006

Jan 2006: Sunderland 0-3 Middlesbrough (Pogatetz, Parnaby, Hasselbaink)

Middlesbrough had gone 10 without a win going into this game, but a convincing 3-0 victory at the Stadium of Light put the pressure firmly on Black Cats boss Mick McCarthy. There was no way back for Sunderland as their season ended in relegation, but McClaren's men moved to safety with the manager speaking of getting King Kong off his back let alone a monkey.