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Ray Harford and Steve McClaren, 1999

It is February 7, 1999, and the two men pictured (right) are facing very different futures, writes Anton Rippon.

On the right of the photograph is Steve McClaren, Derby County’s outgoing assistant manager.

He had been headhunted by Manchester United’s Sir Alex Ferguson to take over as his assistant at Old Trafford.

On the left is Ray Harford, the former Blackburn Rovers manager, who had agreed to help Rams manager Jim Smith until the end of that season.

At the time, McClaren, a former Rams player under Arthur Cox, was being hailed as one of the game’s most innovative coaches.

And, as Ferguson’s assistant, he shared in Manchester United’s European glory before becoming manager of Middlesbrough, and then, of course, England.

Seen very much as a compromise candidate for England’s top job after last year’s World Cup failure with Sven Goran Eriksson, McClaren soon became beleaguered in the post.

A string of disappointing performances in group stage matches for Euro 2008 left the national media calling for his head.

Harford was also hailed as a great coach.

He had steered Luton Town to three Wembley finals in two years, and, as Kenny Dalglish’s assistant, helped Blackburn Rovers to promotion to the Premiership in 1992 and to the title just three years later.

Besides working briefly for the Rams, Harford also managed Wimbledon, West Bromwich Albion and QPR.

He was coaxed out of semi-retirement to coach Millwall, who won the Second Division championship in 2001.

Harford died in August 2003, less than a year after being diagnosed with lung cancer.

On a more prosaic note, the Rams won the game at which the two are pictured here, 2-0 against Everton, at Pride Park. Both goals were scored by Deon Burton.

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