Steve McClaren does not feel he has anything to prove in England, despite his tag as one of the least successful Three Lions coaches in history.

Steve McClaren does not feel he has anything to prove in England, despite his tag as one of the least successful Three Lions coaches in history.

McClaren was sacked as coach of the national team after the 3-2 Wembley loss to Croatia which ended hopes of qualification for the 2008 European Championship finals.

It ended a two-year reign in charge, after the Yorkshireman had stepped up from assistant to Sven-Goran Eriksson following the 2006 World Cup finals.

"A small number of people will concentrate on the England thing and maybe view me in a bad light but I think the majority of people will be, and have been, supportive," he said.

"I can't change some of those views but the people who know football know me and they have been very supportive.

"I was successful before England and after, so I don't have to answer to anyone. But that's football, isn't it.

"You learn from those experiences and your philosophy always develops."

McClaren will forever be tagged as the "Wally with the Brolly" following that Wembley loss, with the lasting image of the night being him looking lost for words as he sheltered from the pouring rain under an umbrella.

He had enjoyed great success as Middlesbrough coach, winning the 2004 Carling Cup and reaching the Uefa Cup final in 2006.

With jobs in England not forthcoming due to his association with England's failure, he moved abroad to lead Dutch side FC Twente to their first Eredivisie title.

On the back of that he was appointed Wolfsburg coach last summer, but he was sacked in February.

He now finds himself back in England, after being appointed boss of Championship side Nottingham Forest.

"I don't feel I have anything to prove. I came back to England because I wanted to," he said.

"I had offers to stay on the continent but the challenge of English football, and Forest, is what brought me back.

"Going abroad has made me a better coach and now I look forward to bringing those experiences and what I have learned here to Forest."