When asked about Steve McClaren's time at FC Twente Enschede, thoughts immediately turn to the infamous interview when he adopted a Dutch accent while speaking in his native tongue.

He was widely derided, not for the first time, by the English public and you would have been forgiven for doubting whether he could be a success in Holland.

But fast forward 18 months and a quick glance at the Dutch Eredivisie shows any reservations over his managerial ability have been replaced by a genuine respect for what McClaren is trying to achieve at The Tukkers.

Since his appointment in the summer of 2008, McClaren has led FC Twente to a second-placed finish and a Dutch Cup final, where they lost out on penalties to Heerenveen.

And they are currently top of the league, unbeaten after twelve games having won 10 of them.

Their Champions League qualification bid ended in heartache, though, as they lost out to Sporting Lisbon after surrendering their lead in injury time with a goal from goalkeeper Rui Rui Patricio sending FC Twente into the newly-developed Europa League.

There they have acquitted themselves respectably in a section containing Fenerbahce, Steaua Bucharest and FC Sheriff - four points at the halfway point mean they are on course to match last season's achievement of playing European football after Christmas.

McClaren has transformed a small but ambitious club into one not only competing with the so-called big three in Holland, but now also getting the better of them.

Ajax, PSV and Feynoord are no longer the force they once and that gives the opportunity for not only Twente, but also reigning champions AZ Alkmaar to challenge for the league title again.

McClaren has also bought well and in Bryan Ruiz he has found a forward to partner Blaise Nkufo, their top goalscorer for the last six seasons. The pair have 15 goals between them and it is obvious they will be crucial if FC Twente are to maintain the early-season form in pursuit of a maiden league title.

And the former England boss has embraced the learning of a new culture.

Working abroad had always been an ambition of his and it was Sir Bobby Robson who encouraged him to try what so many others refuse to explore. By doing so, he will become a better manager and posses qualities other English coaches are too conservative to adopt.

His style of football is also appealing, with his belief that a passing game with technical ability evident in the football Twente play.

Holland will suit that style and perhaps explains why he wanted to get out of England. Here the game is more direct and there would be less patience and tolerance of trying to develop a different approach.

The time he is being afforded by chairman Joop Munsterman will give him extra confidence and has been rewarded by agreeing a contract extension, tying him to the De Grolsch Veste Enschede until the summer of 2011.

Of course, McClaren still has so much to prove after his disastrous stint as England manager and there will always be cynics who will snipe at everything he does.

The next step would be to win something after finishing runners-up in both major domestic competitions last season.

Champions League qualification would also help his growing reputation.

If he can realise these aspirations his stock will rise considerably and a bigger job could very well await him in one of Europe's top leagues.