THE HAGUE, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- Steve McClaren has replaced Co Adriaanse as head coach of Dutch soccer club FC Twente, the Dutch Eredivisie club announced on Thursday.

The 50-year-old Englishman will sign a contract for two and a half years on Friday. McClaren already coached Twente between 2008 and 2010 and in his last year he led the club to their first top league title.

Co Adriaanse was fired on Tuesday due to his bad relationship with some players and staff. Twente are currently third in the Eredivisie and qualified for the last 32 of the Europa League.

According to chairman Joop Munsterman, McClaren is the ideal candidate to succeed Adriaanse. "We wanted someone with broad support within the whole club," he said on the website of Twente.

"But also someone who knows the culture of FC Twente and knows most of the players. Steve was the automatic choice and he also was available."

McClaren was fired last October at English club Nottingham Forest. He also worked as coach of Middlesbrough, VfL Wolfsburg and as England coach.