Schwarzer: Our Relationship with McClaren Completely Broke Down, He Was Not Honest

To many people, Steve McClaren is the most successful manager in Middlesbrough's history. McClaren gave the club its first major trophy with the 2004 League Cup. Two years later, he took his team to the UEFA Cup final, but they lost 4-0 to Sevilla in the final. When McClaren left the club in 2006 to take charge of the England national team, few supporters looked on the departure with sadness.

Former goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, however, does not have a positive impression of his time working under McClaren. Schwarzer said the manager did many good things in the first two years. He said the manager's ideas, his approach to coaching and the change in the level of professionalism at the club were what Middlesbrough needed.

According to Schwarzer, things became harder after that. As McClaren became more self-assured, his expectations also changed. Schwarzer said that as a player he was held responsible for the team's poor run, while the manager made little effort to question himself. Schwarzer said their relationship had completely broken down and that he did not find McClaren honest.