Steve McClaren claimed he was experiencing "the proudest moment of my career" after being unveiled as England's new head coach - and vowed to win over people sceptical about his appointment. He said: "I've had many great moments in football but this has to be the proudest moment in my career. To manage your country is the greatest honour which can be bestowed on anyone."

He continued: "I don't see it as a case of first choice or second choice. I am THE choice and I sit here as the next England coach.

"I am results-orientated and I'm here to do a job, win matches and make sure England over the next four years win a major trophy. If I can do that I'm sure my popularity will rise - its certainly not an issue for me."

Brian Barwick, the Football Association chief executive, also insisted that McClaren had always been his first choice to be the next manager - despite having flown to Portugal last week to discuss the vacant post with Luiz Felipe Scolari.

Barwick and the FA have been roundly criticised for the "tortuous" fashion in which they have selected the next head coach of the national team, including when they publicly admitted speaking to Scolari in Lisbon. Scolari rejected the chance to become England coach although Barwick insisted today the Brazilian had never actually been offered the job in the face of accusations that McClaren was 'second choice'.

"It's seen by many as a torturous process," conceded Barwick. "I think we tried to appoint a senior person in a major industry. We hit the target early today. It started in early March and it ended up in May. We have had a job to do and it's taken us as long as it's taken us.

"It may have been tedious from where you were, at times it's been tedious from where we are, but it's taken as long as it has. He (McClaren) did two fantastic interviews. He was my first choice, the FA board's unanimous choice."

Barwick added: "I saw (Luiz) Felipe Scolari on three occasions - once in London, once in Oxfordshire, definitely in Lisbon. There were potential developments... he then declared he had no interest in the job. We never offered him the job.

"My first choice was always Steve McClaren. We tried to take out the conjecture before a World Cup in a football industry that needs to know where it's going through the closed season."

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