Steve McClaren is standing down as trainer at football club FC Twente following a string of disappointing results for the team this year.

‘The club is more than one individual,’ McClaren told local newspaper Tubantia. ‘Twente has too big a place in my heart to stand in the way of its future.’

McClaren was given a contract to 2014 last year and was welcomed with open arms. In 2010 he was the first trainer to propel Twente to the Dutch league title.

Germany

The Englishman left Twente for German side Wolfsburg after two successful seasons with the Enschede club. He was sacked there and by Nottingham for disappointing results and was out of a job when he was brought back to the Netherlands.

Twente is currently fifth in the Dutch league. They lost 2-1 to Heerenveen last Sunday and are due to take on Ajax this weekend.

Twente chairman Joop Munsterman said in a statement he respected McClaren’s decision.