On This Day In 2010: Steve McClaren And FC Twente Seize Opportunity To Go Top In Historic Title-Winning Campaign

Martin Cloake

7th, March 2016

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This season’s Premier League title race is not only exciting because it looks like going to the wire, but also because there’s a more than decent chance we might end up with a new name on the trophy at long last.

As such, it’s perhaps fitting that, six years ago today, another newcomer to nouveau title glory emerged in the Netherlands.

With a narrow 1-0 away win over RKC Waalwijk on 7th March, FC Twente Enschede leapt above PSV to take top spot in the Dutch Eredivisie – a position they would not relinquish that season on the way to winning the first ever league title in the club’s 45-year history.

Twente were only formed in 1965, four whole years after one of this season’s Premier League challengers, Tottenham Hotspur, last won the top division.

The club’s previous best finish was a second place in 1974. During the 2009/10 campaign under Steve McClaren (in his fluctuating accent, pre-brolly days), Twente won 17 and drew four of their first 21 games, holding the top spot for 10 weeks.

They temporarily dropped to second in January after a couple of 0-0 draws, but when PSV lost to NAC Breda on 6th March, they took full advantage the following day and moved back into pole position.

The rest, as McClaren himself might say, is hishtory…

You can follow Martin Cloake on Twitter at @MartinCloake and find more about his books and writing at www.martincloake.com