Philippe_Clement

Philippe Clement

Philippe Clement

Belgian football coach and former player

Philippe Clement (born 22 March 1974) is a Belgian professional football manager and former player who currently manages Scottish Premiership club Rangers.

Quick Facts Personal information, Date of birth ...

He began his professional career at Belgian clubs Beerschot and Genk between 1992 and 1998, thereafter he joined Coventry City in England for one season. Clement then spent ten seasons at Club Brugge, between 1999 and 2009, where he played 333 matches. At the international level, Clement won 38 caps for the Belgian national team between 1998 and 2007 and scored one goal.

As a manager, Clement led Genk and Club Brugge to Belgian Pro League titles over three consecutive seasons. Abroad, he managed Monaco in Ligue 1 and Rangers in the Scottish Premiership, winning a Scottish League Cup.

Playing career

Born in Antwerp, Clement played as a centre-back or defensive midfielder for Beerschot, Genk, Coventry City and Club Brugge. Aged 35, at the end of his contract, he returned to his hometown in June 2009 and joined Germinal Beerschot.[1]

Clement played 38 times with Belgium national team, and was in the team for the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000, missing the 2002 World Cup through a hamstring injury.[2] His debut was as a substitute in a 2–2 friendly draw with Norway on 25 March 1998,[3] and his only goal on 7 June 2003 was in a 2–2 draw with Bulgaria in Euro 2004 qualification.[2]

Coaching career

Assistant and interim manager of Club Brugge

At the end of his playing career in the summer of 2011, Clement became head of Club Brugge's U21s.[4] Aimé Anthuenis, his coach at Genk in 1998–99 and one of his mentors, recalled: "At Genk as well as with the [national team], I noticed that he was predisposed for the job. He was interested, asked questions, gave his opinion, behaved like a leader and had a great sense of teamwork."[5]

For the 2012–13 season, Clement became assistant coach of the first team.[4] In November 2012, he had his first experience as a manager on a professional bench and took over on an interim basis for two games between the dismissal of Georges Leekens[6] and the appointment of Juan Carlos Garrido.[4] His debut as a senior manager on 8 November was a 2–2 home draw with Newcastle United in the UEFA Europa League group stage,[7] and three days later lost 6–1 at leaders Anderlecht in the league.[8]

Clement then became Garrido's assistant.[4] In September 2013, he took over as interim coach following the Spaniard's dismissal and then remained assistant to Michel Preud'homme, until the end of the 2016–17 season.[4] Brugge won three titles (Belgian Cup 2015, then Championship and Super Cup in 2016), four runners-up and a third place in the Pro League during Clement's stay.[4]

Beveren and Genk

On 24 May 2017, Clement was hired on a three-year deal for his first job as a permanent head coach, at Waasland-Beveren.[9] In December that year, he moved to Genk, where he had previously played.[10] He guided his team to the 2018 Belgian Cup final which they lost 1–0 to Standard Liège; he blamed the referee for allegedly allowing the other team to waste time with trivial injuries.[11] The 2017–18 season ended with Europa League qualification after a 2–0 playoff win over Zulte Waregem and the team made the last 32 in the continental tournament before losing 4–1 at home to Slavia Prague;[12][13] his side won the league in 2018–19.[14]

Return to Brugge

In May 2019, Clement returned to Brugge on a three-year deal.[15] His team lost the 2020 Belgian Cup final by a single goal to Royal Antwerp,[16] and made the last 32 in the Europa League before a 6–1 elimination by Manchester United.[17] He won the league title in his first two seasons,[18] and was subsequently given a contract of indefinite length.[19] On 17 July 2021, he won the Belgian Super Cup 3–2 against Genk in the Jan Breydel Stadium.[20]

AS Monaco

On 3 January 2022, Clement left Club Brugge after three seasons and joined Monaco of the French Ligue 1 as head coach, following the departure of Niko Kovač. He signed a two-and-a-half-year contract until June 2024.[21] His debut six days later was a goalless draw at Nantes.[22] He lifted the team from 6th place to 3rd in what remained of his first season, including a run of nine consecutive victories.[23] In the space of two weeks in March, his team were eliminated from the Coupe de France semi-finals on penalties after a 2–2 draw again at Nantes,[24] and from the last 16 of the Europa League by Braga.[25]

Clement's team came 6th and missed out on Europe in 2022–23, leading to his dismissal.[23] Monaco were eliminated from the third round of the domestic cup by Ligue 2 club Rodez on penalties at the Stade Louis II,[26] and by Bayer Leverkusen on the same method in the Europa League play-in round.[27]

Rangers

Clement was appointed as manager of Scottish Premiership club Rangers on 15 October 2023, succeeding Michael Beale, who was sacked after less than eleven months in post, and interim manager Steven Davis.[28] He signed a deal until the summer of 2027.[2]

On his debut on 21 October, Clement's team won 4–0 at home to Hibernian.[29] He won the Scottish League Cup on 17 December with a single goal by James Tavernier in the final against Aberdeen, also taking his unbeaten run to 14 games in all competitions.[30] His run ended at 16 games on 30 December, with a 2–1 loss at Celtic in the Old Firm game.[31]

Career statistics

Club

More information Club, Season ...

    International

    [32]

    More information Year, Appearances ...
    More information Goal, Date ...

    Managerial record

    As of match played 11 May 2024
    More information Team, From ...

    Honours

    Player

    Genk[33]

    Club Brugge[34]

    Manager

    Genk

    Club Brugge

    Rangers

    Individual

    References

    1. [1]
      "Clement quitte le FC Bruges pour le GBA" [Clement leaves Club Brugge for GBA] (in French). RTBF. 29 July 2009. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
    2. [2]
      Grant, Michael (15 October 2023). "Philippe Clement appointed Rangers manager". The Times. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
    3. [3]
      Larsimont, Frédéric; Thienpont, Pierre-Yves (18 March 2002). "23 Diables sur la route de l'Asie PHILIPPE CLÉMENT basket et bosse des maths" [23 Devils on the road to Asia PHILIPPE CLÉMENT basketball and maths wiz]. Le Soir (in French). Retrieved 17 October 2023.
    4. [4]
      "Le Club Bruges offre un CDI à son entraîneur Philippe Clement" [Club Brugge offer a contract of indefinite length to their manager Philippe Clement]. L'Équipe (in French). 5 June 2021. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
    5. [5]
      "Philippe Clément : sa méthode, sa personnalité, les secrets de sa réussite" [Philippe Clément: his method, his personality, the secrets of his success]. RTBF Sport (in French). 21 May 2021. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
    6. [6]
      Scholten, Berend (4 November 2012). "Bruges remercie Leeskens" [Brugge dismiss Leeskens] (in French). UEFA. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
    7. [7]
      "Newcastle's Shola Ameobi seals comeback draw against Club Brugge". The Guardian. 8 November 2012. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
    8. [8]
      "6-1, le Champion d'automne dévore Bruges" [6-1, Autumn champions devour Brugge] (in French). RTBF. 11 November 2012. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
    9. [9]
      "Philippe Clément nouvel entraîneur de Waasland-Beveren" [Philippe Clément new manager of Waasland-Beveren]. L'Équipe (in French). 24 May 2017. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
    10. [10]
      "Belgique : Philippe Clement nouvel entraîneur de Genk" [Belgium: Philippe Clement new manager of Genk]. L'Équipe (in French). 19 December 2017. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
    11. [11]
      Van Damme, Hermès; Moren, Robby (18 March 2018). "Clement pointe Lardot du doigt : "Je n'ai jamais vu ça"" [Clement points the finger at Lardot: "I never saw that"] (in French). Walfoot. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
    12. [12]
      Buyse, Frank; Coorevits, Jochen (28 May 2018). "Philippe Clement: "Ik hoop dat mijn vrouw mij niet zag dansen"" [Philippe Clement: "I hope that my wife didn't see me dancing"]. Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). Retrieved 17 October 2023.
    13. [13]
      "Europa League – Humilié à domicile par le Slavia Prague (1-4), Genk ne verra pas les 8es de finale" [Europa League – Humiliated at home by Slavia Prague (1–4), Genk will not see the last 16] (in French). BX1. 21 February 2019. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
    14. [14]
      Lunay, Mehdi (20 May 2019). "Genk, un champion efficace (surtout) dans les moments importants" [Genk, an efficient champion (especially) in the important moments] (in French). RTBF. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
    15. [15]
      "Le FC Bruges présente Philippe Clement: «C'était la personne idéale»" [Club Brugge present Philippe Clement: "He was the ideal person"]. Le Soir (in French). 29 May 2019. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
    16. [16]
      "Philippe Clément après la défaite du FC Bruges face à l'Antwerp: «En première mi-temps, je n'ai pas reconnu mes joueurs»" [Philippe Clement after Club Brugges' defeat to Antwerp: "In the first half, I didn't recognise my players"]. Le Soir (in French). 1 August 2020. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
    17. [17]
      Carayol, Tumaini (27 February 2020). "Manchester United 5-0 Club Brugge (6-1 agg): Europa League last 32 – as it happened". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
    18. [18]
      Ryo, Rodolphe (31 December 2021). "Monaco: qui est Philippe Clement, le probable successeur de Niko Kovac?" [Monaco: who is Philippe Clement, Niko Kovac's likely successor?] (in French). RMC Sport. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
    19. [19]
      "Philippe Clement prolonge au FC Bruges: il signe un contrat à durée indéterminée" [Philippe Clement extends at Club Brugge: he signs a contract of indefinite length]. Le Soir (in French). 5 June 2021. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
    20. [20]
      Joséphy, Vincent (17 July 2021). "Le Club de Bruges carbure déjà à la Supercoupe" [Club Brugge already gain the Super Cup]. Le Soir (in French). Retrieved 17 October 2023.
    21. [21]
      "Philippe Clement nommé entraîneur de Monaco en remplacement de Niko Kovac (officiel)" [Philippe Clement named manager of Monaco replacing Niko Kovac (official)]. L'Équipe (in French). 3 January 2022. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
    22. [22]
      Boisaubert, Romain (9 January 2022). "Ligue 1 : L'AS Monaco prend un point à Nantes pour la première de Philippe Clement" [Ligue 1: AS Monaco take a point at Nantes on Philippe Clement's debut]. Monaco Tribune (in French). Retrieved 4 November 2023.
    23. [23]
      "Philippe Clément remercié par Monaco après la dernière journée de Ligue 1 : "Ce fut un honneur d'entraîner ce merveilleux club"" [Philippe Clement dismissed by Monaco after the last matchday of Ligue 1: "It was an honour to manage this marvellous club"]. L'Avenir (in French). 4 June 2023. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
    24. [24]
      "Philippe Clement (Monaco) après l'élimination à Nantes : « Les penalties, ça reste un peu une loterie »" [Philippe Clement (Monaco) after the elimination at Nantes: "Penalties, they remain a bit of a lottery"]. L'Équipe (in French). 3 March 2022. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
    25. [25]
      "Philippe Clement (Monaco) après l'élimination contre Braga : « Je suis déçu »" [Philippe Clement (Monaco) after the elimination against Braga: "I am disappointed"]. L'Équipe (in French). 17 March 2022. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
    26. [26]
      "Coupe de France: Rodez renverse Monaco à Louis-II aux tirs au but" [Coupe de France: Rodez defeat Monaco at the Stade Louis II on penalties]. L'Express (in French). 7 January 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
    27. [27]
      "Philippe Clement, l'entraîneur de Monaco après l'élimination en Ligue Europa : « Je n'ai jamais été aussi fier que ce soir »" [Philippe Clement, Monaco manager after Europa League leimination: "I have never been as proud as I was this evening"]. L'Équipe (in French). 24 February 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
    28. [28]
      "Philippe Clement: Rangers appoint former Monaco head coach as manager". BBC Sport. 15 October 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
    29. [29]
      Atkinson, Mark (22 October 2023). "Rangers-Hibs reaction: Vile fans must be outed, calm Philippe Clement, did groundsman take seed talk literally". The Scotsman. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
    30. [30]
      McPheat, Nick (17 December 2023). "Rangers 1–0 Aberdeen". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
    31. [31]
      Duncan, Thomas (30 December 2023). "Celtic 2–1 Rangers". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
    32. [32]
      Philippe Clement at National-Football-Teams.com
    33. [33]
      "Racing Genk | Palmares".
    34. [34]
      "De geschiedenis van Club Brugge in cijfers".
    35. [35]
      "Philippe Clement verkozen tot Coach van het Jaar".
    36. [36]
      "Philippe Clement is opnieuw Coach van het Jaar bij de Gouden Schoen".
    37. [37]
      "Trofee Raymond Goethals". 21 March 2014.
    38. [38]
      "PHILIPPE CLEMENT NAMED SCOTTISH PREMIERSHIP MANAGER OF THE MONTH SCOTTISH PREMIERSHIP". Rangers.co.uk. Rangers Football Club. 5 February 2024.
    39. [39]
      "PHILIPPE CLEMENT NAMED SCOTTISH PREMIERSHIP MANAGER OF THE MONTH". Rangers.co.uk. Rangers Football Club. 15 March 2024.
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