By April 2006, Massimo Maccarone was seen by some fans as one of the worst signings in Middlesbrough’s history. Mere weeks later, he was a Teesside god.

Boro backers won’t forget the noughties in a hurry: they sealed their first major trophy by beating Bolton Wanderers in the 2004 League Cup final, boosted by arrivals Gaizka Mendieta and Bolo Zenden, plus the returning Juninho.

Steve Mcclaren’s men forged a reputation as a cup team – Boro only finished in the top half of the league once all decade, and a fan charged on- field to throw his season ticket at Mcclaren in February 2006, midway through a dreary 4- 0 home loss to Aston Villa.

At the time, Mcclaren was in a four- way fight to succeed the outgoing Sven- Goran Eriksson as England manager – Sam Allardyce, Martin O’neill and Alan Curbishley were interviewed, too – but the Boro boss’ chances skyrocketed thanks to the stunning events of that season’s UEFA Cup knockout stages.

After edging past Serie A giants Roma in the last 16, Middlesbrough lost 2- 0 at Basel in the first leg of the quarter- finals, then conceded an early away goal at the Riverside Stadium.

With an hour left, they needed to score four times. Fortunately, they had firepower: Mark Viduka netted in each half, partnering Yakubu upfront, as Mcclaren threw on more strikers. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink scored a third goal, before Maccarone sparked rapturous scenes with a 90th- minute winner.

It was quite a turnaround for the Italian, who had otherwise been an £ 8m flop – loaned out to Parma and Siena in the previous campaign, before delivering just the one Premier League goal ( against Arsenal, naturally) in the opening three- quarters of that season.

Things got even better for him when Boro somehow pulled off another comeback in the semi- finals. Again requiring four goals in an hour to rescue themselves at home to Steaua Bucharest, Maccarone came on as a first- half substitute for defender Gareth Southgate. This time he scored the first and last goals, netting an 89th- minute winner as lightning incredibly struck twice on Teesside.

Seven days later, Mcclaren was confirmed as England’s new boss, although it didn’t help him in the UEFA Cup final – Boro were bashed 4- 0 by Sevilla in Eindhoven.

Boro fans go berserk out in Eindhoven... but Macca couldn’t save them again