LONDON (AFP) - Former England boss Steve McClaren was on Monday named as the new manager of Championship side Nottingham Forest, the former European champions announced.

McClaren, who returns to the game after being sacked by German side Wolfsburg in February, succeeds Billy Davies, the Scot who on Sunday paid the price for twice failing to take Forest back to the Premier League via the play-offs.

The 50-year-old McClaren has signed a three-year contract at the City Ground with Forest believing he is the man to lead them back into the top flight.

They were relegated in 1999 and have been unable to claw their way back, with their spell in the Football League including three seasons in League One from 2005 to 2008.

Forest chief executive Mark Arthur pointed to McClaren's track record in club management as the reason for his appointment.

Arthur said on Forest's official website: "The club moved quickly to secure his services as it is rare for a manager and coach of his undoubted calibre to be available.

"Steve has a proven track record of coaching and managing at club level, having played a key role in helping Manchester United secure the Champions League trophy in 199û, three Premier League titles and an FA Cup; guided Middlesbrough to the League Cup and also to the final of the UEFA Cup and led FC Twente to their first ever Dutch title.

"We are delighted to have him on board at the City Ground."

McClaren, recently linked with the vacancy at Aston Villa, returns to club management in England - having previously been with Middlesbrough - after time in Holland where he guided FC Twente to a league title, and then Wolfsburg.

His brief tenure as England manager ended when he was sacked a day after a 3-2 defeat by Croatia at Wembley in November 2007 scuppered the team's hopes of qualifying for Euro 2008.

He then moved to the Netherlands, leading Twente to second place in the Dutch Eredivisie in 2009 before leading the unfashionable side to the title the following year.

He left to join Bundesliga team Wolfsburg but failed to match that success and was sacked by the German club four months ago.

McClaren made his coaching reputation as an assistant to Jim Smith at Derby before becoming Sir Alex Ferguson's deputy at Manchester United.

He then took charge of Middlesbrough in 2001 and three years later led them to League Cup glory and to the 2006 UEFA Cup final, where they lost to Seville.

At Middlesbrough, he was drafted into the England set-up by then manager Sven-Goran Eriksson as the Swede's number two and succeeded him after the 2006 World Cup.

Prior to Forest making public their approach, McClaren had ruled himself out of going to West Ham, who since their relegation from the Premier League have appointed Sam Allardyce.

McClaren had also been linked with the vacancy at Aston Villa caused by former France and Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier's resignation through ill-health.