In life after Manchester United, Steve McClaren has become a bit of a figure of fun in football. The 'wally with a brolly' who failed to lead England's golden generation to Euro 2008, the fake Dutch accent in an interview as manager of Holland's Twente and an unpopular spell as Newcastle boss all eroded a gleaming reputation forged in his time as No 2 to Sir Alex Ferguson.
Now, remarkably, an incredible return to Old Trafford could be on the cards after it emerged in The Guardian that Erik ten Hag could make him his No 2 if the Ajax manager takes over at United in the summer.