England fan who went viral at Qatar World Cup for being a Steve McClaren lookalike reveals his trouble with trolls online – and says he’s spent all his savings on following the Three Lions

England superfan Andy Milne has opened up about the horrific abuse he received on social media after going viral as Steve McClaren at the World Cup in Qatar.

Milne first went viral two years ago for supporting England in Qatar, with some on social media claiming he resembled former England manager McClaren, and he has been spotted several times since.

The supporter has become a cult figure among Three Lions supporters after he was caught in Qatar raising a replica of the Jules Rimet Trophy during England’s 3-0 win over Senegal.

But as it threatens to become a viral sensation, Milne has sadly revealed that not all the attention has been positive, with some on social media hurling merciless insults.

‘He looks really good, doesn’t he, so I don’t mind at all. To be honest, I’m doing a bit of social media now,” Milne told Mail Sport on Thursday evening while in Germany ahead of the match against Denmark.

England superfan Andy Milne has opened up about the vile abuse he received from trolls after going viral

Viral England Fan Milne (centre) was spotted again on Sunday during England’s Euro 2024 opener against Serbia

Milne went viral for his resemblance to former England manager McClaren, who managed the team from 2006 to 2007.

“I have no idea, so at that moment I didn’t do anything and I missed all that. Looking back, I was pretty much molested for 24 hours.

People saying “he doesn’t look like Steve McLaren, he looks like a pedophile!”, “Ken Dodd’s love child” – this kind of thing.

‘But a nice lady – I’d love to track her down – came along and said, ‘Look guys, this is just bullying, leave him alone, he’s an England fan just out there enjoying himself’, and the nation seemed to be behind me to stand. afterwards I get so many lovely, welcoming comments from English fans.’

Milne, a retired biology teacher, has been in Germany to monitor the progress of the Three Lions as their bid to end the 58-year wait for major silverware continues.

However, being a viral superfan makes it difficult to fight your way through the competition without endless requests for selfies.

‘[I get a] A lot, like I said, Steve McClaren is a good looking guy!’

‘I retired a little early so I could stay for the entire tournament [In Qatar] but now I run a company in Thailand that’s like an escape room, but over an entire island!’

He added: ‘The country I spent a lot of money on was Qatar, and I did it with a bit of luxury, but here I am sleeping in the back of my car with my mate in a tent outside.

England defeated Serbia in the opening match of the European Championship last Sunday

Milne (pictured at the 2022 World Cup) has been spotted at various tournaments around the world

And when asked how much following the Three Lions around the world has held him back, Milne replied: ‘It’s the money I saved from my teaching job, that’s what I spent!’

For Milne, following England at major tournaments has always been a passion, having made his first trip aged 19 to watch the Three Lions take on the world in the 1982 World Cup in Spain.

‘That tournament in 1982, so excited to get there, we were playing France in the opening game, and 27 seconds in Robson hits the ball into the back of the net and England are 1-0 up. Legend.’

‘I made my way! I took a tent and a backpack and my mother was kind enough to buy me a one-way ticket there. I arrived with my tent, sleeping bag and stove and everything was stolen within two hours, so I struggled with it for a month. ‘

Milne – who estimates he has been to north of 500 games in England – believes English fans are in good hands in Germany.

Apart from a ‘very, very solid side’, Milne praised Three Lions boss Southgate, claiming he is among the best England fans have ever managed in recent years.

Milne believes Southgate is one of, if not the best manager England has ever had

“Gareth is one of the most successful managers we have ever had and I think in retrospect we can all learn from our decisions,” he claimed.

‘I agree with the popular opinion that maybe he should have shaken things up in the last game, but he has brought in new players and we have a very, very solid squad.’