York-born Steve McClaren's potential to be a leader of footballers was spotted by Derby County's wily manager Jim Smith.

As McClaren, who has just turned 40 years of age, traded the number two slot at champions Manchester United for the prime position at Middlesbrough he will have recognised the massive debt he owes to Smith's instincts.

McClaren, a former York City Boys and Yorkshire Schools' team member before his playing career took off at Hull City, was paraded yesterday as successor to one-time England captain Bryan Robson at Middlesbrough yesterday.

As Smith revealed in his autobiography 'It's Only A Game' it was he who homed in on the latent coaching ability of Boro's new man in charge.

Smith made former Nunthorpe School pupil McClaren his right-hand man a week after he took over as Derby boss some six years ago.

McClaren, who had played for Derby, was reserve-team coach at Oxford and the Second Division side received £30,000 compensation.

Wrote Smith: "Steve made an immediate impact with a wonderful, fresh approach that went down well with the players and the rest of the staff.

"He introduced innovations such as stretching exercises, massages, diets, technical data and fitness routines in conjunction with the specialist coach.

"It was a whole new training and match preparation routine which put the accent on the athleticism as well as the skill of the players."

Besides his attention to detail McClaren was also a keen champion of technology as Smith revealed.

"We also did a lot of work studying videos and it was not just reviewing matches," said the Derby boss.

"We had separate cameras strategically placed to be able to provide not only where we might have gone wrong but also a detailed analysis of any player's performance.

"The face of football was changing fast and I viewed Steve's role as essential in that progression. He turned out to be everything I had expected and a lot more."

Derby secured promotion in the first year under the new management team of Smith and McClaren.

McClaren's work did not go unnoticed and he had little hesitation in going to Old Trafford in February 1999 when Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson needed a replacement for Brian Kidd.

By the end of that season United had completed an unprecedented treble of Premiership, FA Cup and European crowns.

Smith said: "I was sad the line of succession was broken but flattered that someone I had spotted when he was just an obscure reserve-team coach with a Division Two club should become coach to what became the most successful club in Europe."

Updated: 12:20 Wednesday, June 13, 2001