Rangers Dismiss Manager Philippe Clement Following St Mirren Defeat
Rangers have parted ways with head coach Philippe Clement after Saturday’s home loss to St Mirren, leaving them 13 points adrift of Scottish Premiership frontrunners Celtic.
The Belgian, 50, had been under increasing scrutiny this season as his squad failed to match Celtic’s consistency. This month’s Scottish Cup exit at the hands of Queen’s Park further fueled fan discontent.
Off the field, 49ers Enterprises are in discussions regarding a potential acquisition of Rangers, with a deal expected to be finalized between April and June.
“The club wishes to express their heartfelt appreciation to Philippe for his commitment and dedication during his tenure,” Rangers stated.
“A subsequent announcement from the club will follow in due course.”
Clement was appointed in October 2023 following Michael Beale’s 10-month stint and quickly secured the League Cup while guiding the team to the summit of the Premiership.
However, a poor track record against Celtic played a role in missing out on last season’s league championship and Scottish Cup.
This campaign, league setbacks against Celtic, Kilmarnock, Aberdeen, and St Mirren placed Clement under pressure, while Rangers fell short of another League Cup victory after losing the final to Celtic in a penalty shootout.
Rangers’ league triumph over Celtic at Ibrox in January provided a brief respite, but additional dropped points against Hibernian and Dundee, combined with recent home defeats, ultimately determined Clement’s fate.
After Hibs overcame Celtic earlier on Saturday, St Mirren’s victory was their first at Ibrox since 1991, coming just under two weeks after Championship side Queen’s Park eliminated Rangers from the Scottish Cup.
Kilmarnock will host Rangers in the Premiership on Wednesday (20:00 GMT), with Motherwell visiting Ibrox on Saturday (15:00).
Clement’s European Performance and Boardroom Perspective
In continental competition, Clement’s performance was respectable, replicating last season’s accomplishment of reaching the Europa League’s last 16. José Mourinho’s Fenerbahce will now face Rangers in a two-legged tie in March for a spot in the quarter-finals.
Last week, chief executive Patrick Stewart suggested the board was reluctant to make a managerial switch while Rangers remained in European contention.
“We have been underachieving for multiple seasons now, and that isn’t solely down to a manager,” he stated. “We have changed managers before, and it hasn’t altered the overall outcome.
“Until we address the root issues, it’s like attempting to repair a crumbling house by fixing the roof instead of reinforcing the foundation.
“Despite the disastrous Queen’s Park result, we must also acknowledge Philippe and the team’s impressive Europa League run. I don’t want to make a decision that could jeopardize further progress in the competition.”
Clement departs having secured victory in 55 of his 86 matches in charge, with 16 draws and 15 defeats.
Instability On and Off the Pitch
A premature exit from the Champions League qualifying rounds in August restricted Clement’s summer transfer funds amid an increasingly challenging financial climate.
Rangers reported a £17.2m deficit for the financial year ending in June, a £4.1m increase from the prior accounting period, resulting in a reduction of the first-team wage budget this season.
In contrast, three-time reigning champions Celtic declared a £13.4m profit, underscoring Rangers’ struggles to reach the Champions League group stage last season or the league phase this term.
Previously at Club Brugge and Monaco, Clement had penned a contract extension earlier in the season, committing until 2028. As a result, Rangers now face another managerial compensation package for the third consecutive season.
The club is now searching for its fifth permanent head coach in four years, with neither Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Beale, nor Clement mounting a convincing challenge against Celtic since Steven Gerrard last secured the league title for Rangers in 2021.
In recent months, Ibrox has undergone changes at the boardroom level, with Stewart arriving from Manchester United and Fraser Thornton being appointed non-executive chairman.
The chief executive role had been vacant for approximately six months following James Bisgrove’s summer departure, while John Gilligan took over as interim chairman in September after John Bennett stepped down due to health concerns.
Stewart, in his recent interview with club media, revealed that Rangers were actively seeking to appoint a new sporting director—a decision Clement later confirmed he would not be involved in.
