New Queens Park Rangers manager Steve McClaren has appointed John Eustace to his backroom staff as his assistant.
38-year-old Eustace leaves his position as manager of National League North side Kidderminster Harriers to make the step up to the Championship with us. He has been with them since April 2016.
✍ John Eustace has been named as #QPR’s new assistant manager.
▶️ https://t.co/QHVSALNEtB pic.twitter.com/i2xRT77Wl0
— QPR FC (@QPR) May 25, 2018
The former midfielder made over 400 senior appearances in his playing days in the Premier League and Championship, representing Coventry City, Stoke City, Watford and Derby County and he was managed by McClaren during their time at Pride Park.
His playing days were brought to an early end owing to a knee injury, hence his young age as a manager in his own right, and he certainly hasn’t done too badly with Harriers as he’s helped them to two consecutive Play-Off finishes following their relegation from the National League.
???? Steve McClaren links up with John Eustace again after their time together at @dcfcofficial.
▶️ https://t.co/QHVSAM5fSb pic.twitter.com/Kf2Q6kCSDb
— QPR FC (@QPRFC) May 25, 2018
Speaking to the Official Site about his appointment, he explained.
“I can’t wait to get going with QPR. I enjoyed two years managing at Kidderminster and that was a great experience for me. Now I have a great opportunity to develop and I couldn’t be learning off anyone better than the gaffer. I had two great years with him at Derby and learned so much. His coaching is fantastic and the boys here are going to benefit from that 100 percent. I can’t wait to help the players here to develop in the way the gaffer helped me.”
McClaren himself spoke about Eustace’s attitude as a player as it pertained to helping to create the right culture in the dressing room at Derby and he also spoke about his philosophy
of how the game should be played and the high, thorough standards he will bring to us now.
McClaren also confirmed that there would be more additions to his backroom staff over the coming weeks, and he’s hoping he can make further announcements shortly.
The news has brought a mixed reaction from fans, but at least in terms of his success at Kidderminster he’s proven he’s got something as a coach/gaffer, so we’ll just have to see if he can hit the ground running with us and compliment McClaren nicely. At least their previous working relationship gives them a headstart and understanding to build from.
Hope so .
— Andrew Noble (@AndrewNobleQPR) May 25, 2018
???? but welcome to QPR.
— Linda Fitzgerald (@Hoops9Linda) May 25, 2018
You could be right. Oh well, we’ll have to see how he does ????
— Linda Fitzgerald (@Hoops9Linda) May 25, 2018
The Eust was a legend for us – best of luck at QPR, hope it goes well (but not better than us ????) #Eust
— ATimperley (@brightonram) May 25, 2018
