Axed Rangers boss Philippe Clement claims he’s still ‘well-liked in Glasgow’

Former Rangers boss Philippe Clement claims that he’s still well-liked and appreciated by the Ibrox faithful seven months after his brutal sacking. The Belgian joined the Light Blues in October 2023, replacing then manager Michael Beale but was sacked after only 16 months in charge. The 51-year-old started his time off in Glasgow well as the Gers won the Premier Sports Cup and finished top of their Europa League group, and reached the last 16 of the competition. However, it ended catastrophically the following season as his side were trailing Celtic in the league by 13 points and got dumped out of the Scottish Cup 1-0 to Championship side Queens Park, which ultimately led to Clement’s downfall. Speaking to Belgian media outlet GVA, the Antwerp-born manager said that it’s still difficult to try and get over how he left the Ibrox club: “I sometimes find it hard to put that out of my mind, because the circumstances in which something like that happens aren’t always known to the outside world, and that’s why it’s hard for me to call it dismissal. “The trick is to see through it. I may have joined those clubs at the wrong time. But I’m still well-liked in Monaco and Glasgow because they know the work I’ve done.” The former Monaco boss recently had hip surgery but is looking forward to making a return to the dugout in the near future, he added: “I’m not ready yet, and I’m talking about that hip surgery. I’ve only been walking without crutches since last week. “It won’t be for another two or three weeks before I’m ready to get back into it. “And something will come up. I’m sure of that. I also want to keep working abroad.” “New adventures, new cultures, a certain way of working. I like Belgium, you know, but I was really captivated in Monaco and Glasgow, and I want to keep gaining experience. “Not even as a national coach or anything like that. I still want to be on that pitch, working with the players every day. I still love doing that.”