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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Jeremy Armstrong & David McDonnell & Andy Lines

Steve McClaren 'lookalike' takes World Cup to all England matches and is hero among fans

A Steve McClaren 'lookalike' has become a cult figure with England fans in Qatar.

Retired teacher Andy Milne has taken a replica World Cup to all our matches.

Now he carries it in a plastic bag.....because so many Three Lions fans ask him for selfies.

"I call it 'Sophie the trophy' after my daughter," said Andy, 59, of Northwich, Cheshire.

"This is my eighth World Cup but it is the first time that I have been able to do so many games.

"It is a retirement present to myself, I have been saving for four years.

"He is a very handsome guy, Steve McClaren."

The fan is a Steve McClaren lookalike (Daily Mirror/Andy Stenning)
Steve McLaren pictured in 2012 (Getty Images)

The image of Andy holding the replica trophy aloft in our 3-0 victory over Senegal has gone viral.

"People are calling me 'That World Cup Guy'," added Andy, father to Laila, 26, and Sophie, 24. His name on Instagram is that_world_cup_guy.

"I am not sure if the photo of me was after the first or second England goal.

"There was some trolling at first, but then came the really nice comments."

McClaren during the English Premier League football match between Newcastle United and Chelsea at St James' Park in Newcastle-upon-Tyne in September 2015 (AFP/Getty Images)

He intends to set up a new treasure hunt business in Thailand with his doctor wife Achla next year.

Andy, staying on the cruise liner MSC Poesia in Doha, added: "I have been persuaded to open an Instagram account.. I do not have a clue on social media.

"I have been putting aside money for this trip for four years, but it has been worth it."

Ex-head of science at Grange School, Northwich, Andy went to his first World Cup in Spain in 1982 aged 19.

He carried on following the team even after he had all his belongings stolen. "I think everyone in this England squad has been magnificent," he added.

McClaren was manager of England from 2006-7, spanning 18 games in 16 months.

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