AS WELL as his love of football, Steve McClaren's interest in music has led to him making a trip to Amsterdam for a U2 concert just a couple of days before a Middlesbrough match.

So for the ambitious Yorkshireman, after years of striving to fulfil his ultimate dream of becoming the England manager, yesterday was his very own Beautiful Day.

While many up and down the country truly believe he is a hopeless case, the Football Association will take him to another place in August and that means Soho Square beckons for the Boro boss.

McClaren has sweet-talked those who matter most but, most importantly, his undoubted coaching talent has ensured he has claimed the position he has always wanted well ahead of schedule.

And the normally private man, except for when he has had to turn to publicist Max Clifford in a bid to diffuse unwanted media attention surrounding his personal life, would even admit as much.

In the end, when England came calling he was never going to turn it down. Those close to him have often claimed he would, but the level of his desire to lead his country was such that he has found it impossible to say no.

During his five years in charge at the Riverside, McClaren has regularly spoken of his ambition to lead his country and the changes he has made have all been designed with that in mind.

Whether he has had his teeth whitened to improve his look, decided to wear suits at games instead of tracksuits for a more professional image, or taken media training to help heighten his profile, he always knew the day would come when England would call.

The four-year contract he will start on August 1 will be the result of years and years of hard work. Middlesbrough fans will remember the June day in 2001 when he took over at the Riverside, but he ended up there by being the best at his job with Manchester United, Derby and Oxford.

Prior to being appointed on Teesside, McClaren had never been shy to tell Sir Alex Ferguson and Jim Smith exactly what he thought.

Another sign of his ruthless streak was when he insisted on becoming his own free manager at Middlesbrough when chairman Steve Gibson had hoped for a managerial threesome involving Bryan Robson and Terry Venables.

Two years ago at Warwick University, as McClaren put the finishing touches to completing his UEFA pro-licence course, he is remembered by one of those who attended as being the keenest to take part in everything.

The two-week residential course - with the likes of Mark Hughes and Iain Dowie in attendance - could be seen as gruelling by many, but not McClaren.

He loves his work and enjoys the workload.

Hence the reason why he has always, apart from a brief period of time, been at the right hand of Sven-Goran Eriksson while also carrying out his full-time responsibilities at club level.

If you ask anyone on Teesside whether the dual role has affected Middlesbrough's progress, the answer should be no. If it isn't then the proof is in the pudding and Wednesday's UEFA Cup final illustrates how far they have come during his five years at the helm.

He has had his critics in the North-East but even during his most difficult periods at the Riverside he has emerged smelling of roses with his reputation intact.

The portrayal of him in the media as being wooden is partly down to the fact he often spends 20 minutes talking to his PR sidekick before press conferences in an attempt to make sure he has his story straight.

Away from the cameras and the media glare he is a decent, ambitious man who is very approachable.

I once shared a taxi with him from Darlington train station to Durham Tees-Valley airport and he actually offered to pay.

McClaren, whether you agree or disagree with the FA's English appointment, would love nothing more than to deliver the World Cup to his country.

With the exception, maybe, of bringing the UEFA Cup to Teesside first.

Now wouldn't that be the Real Thing for Boro fans?