HARRY Redknapp has moved to strengthen his backroom team with the appointment of Steve McClaren.





McClaren has carved out an excellent reputation as a coach, beginning with Oxford United and Derby County before enjoying similar roles with Manchester United and England.





R’s boss Redknapp told www.qpr.co.uk: “I am delighted to have been able to bring Steve in.





“Everyone in the game knows what a top coach he is and he’ll add something different to the group, regardless of how long he is with us for.





“This is a very important season for us and I wanted to look at freshening up the whole place, not just the playing side.





“I want new ideas, different opinions and another experienced head to speak to. That’s what Steve brings. Along with Kevin (Bond) and Joe (Jordan) I’ve got a brilliant backroom team and their input is going to be so important for me this season. Steve adds to the excellent staff I already have here.”





McClaren said: “I'm delighted to take up this position offered to me by Harry and QPR.





“Whilst it still remains my ambition to manage again this gives me an ideal opportunity to stay involved and work on the field with one of the top managers in this country and a very ambitious club.





“Rest assured, I'll be doing all I can for Harry, the club and the fans to help QPR return to the Premier League.”





After a spell as a youth and reserve team coach at Oxford United, McClaren teamed up with Jim Smith at Pride Park in 1995 where he helped the Rams win promotion to the Premier League in his first season at the club.





This was followed by three hugely impressive campaigns for Derby, as they finished 12th in their first season back in the top flight before cementing ninth spot in 1997/98.





Mid-way through the 1998/99 campaign, as the Rams worked towards an eventual eighth placed-finish, McClaren took on the role of Sir Alex Ferguson’s assistant at Old Trafford.





He played his part as United recorded an historic Treble, winning the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League.





United won two more Premier League titles as McClaren’s reputation as a forward-thinking, innovative coach grew.





In October 2000, McClaren joined caretaker-manager Peter Taylor’s coaching set up with the England national team, and was retained by permanent boss Sven-Goran Eriksson.





He later went on to replace Eriksson as boss and also spent time as manager of Middlesbrough, FC Twente, Vfl Wolfsburg and Nottingham Forest.







