Philippe Clement sacked by Rangers after St Mirren loss with membership 13 factors behind Celtic within the Scottish Premiership

Rangers have sacked supervisor Philippe Clement after 16 months in cost.

It follows a house loss to St Mirren within the Scottish Premiership that leaves the membership 13 factors behind leaders Celtic with 11 video games to go.

That outcome got here simply weeks after Rangers’ hopes of successful home silverware this season had been all however ended following a shock 1-0 Scottish Cup defeat at dwelling to Championship aspect Queen’s Park, with the Gers having already misplaced the League Cup ultimate to their Previous Agency rivals.

Clement does, nevertheless, depart with Rangers by to the final 16 of the Europa League.

“Rangers Football Club can confirm it has tonight parted company with men’s first-team manager, Philippe Clement,” the membership stated in an announcement on Sunday evening.

“The club would like to put on record their sincere thanks to Philippe for his hard work and dedication during his spell in charge. A further update from the club will follow in due course.”

The choice to sack the Belgian comes round seven months after handing the 50-year-old a brand new one-year contract extension – and simply weeks after the membership appointed Clement’s new assistant Issame Charai.

Talking earlier on Sunday earlier than Rangers took the choice to sack Clement, Sky Sports activities pundit Kris Boyd stated: “Find an interim, put him in charge between now and the end of the season. He has to go right now.

“We’re used to him popping out with excuses, he simply seemed defeated on Saturday, you simply really feel as if it is time up. It must be executed now – I have been saying this for months. This has been on the decline for months.

“You only need to look at the players, who need to shoulder some of the responsibility, but there is no style of play.

“There isn’t a construction to something they do and that is from the highest down.”

Backed in January, sacked in February

Solely final month Rangers chief govt Patrick Stewart backed Clement, regardless of rising stress from supporters.

The previous Manchester United chief – who took up his function within the Ibrox boardroom in December – admitted it will have been “the easy decision” to sack the Belgian following frustration from followers.

He insisted his personal time at Previous Trafford proved fixed managerial change just isn’t efficient however did warn Clement outcomes should enhance with no “cast-iron guarantees” provided.

Stewart backed Clement once more every week after the Queen’s Park defeat however with outcomes not bettering sufficient, Clement has been dismissed.

Rangers are seven weeks right into a “root and branch review of the entire football department” which is being led by exterior specialists. In the meantime, the board are additionally in talks with the San Francisco 49ers over a multi-million-pound takeover of the membership.

Along with coping with issues off the sphere, Stewart should now lead Rangers’ seek for their fifth everlasting boss since November 2021.

What went improper for Clement?

When the former Genk, Membership Brugge and Monaco boss took over at Ibrox in October 2023, Rangers discovered themselves seven factors adrift of Celtic after a poor begin to the season below Michael Beale.

Nonetheless, his influence was prompt. Unbeaten runs lasting 16 video games then 14 video games – separated solely by a defeat to Celtic – noticed Rangers draw degree on the prime of the desk, having performed a recreation fewer.

Clement had additionally secured the League Cup trophy for the primary time since 2011, obtained to the Scottish Cup semis and Europa League final 16.

Nonetheless, issues then took a flip and, in fact, Rangers by no means actually recovered.

A 3-2 defeat at Ross County adopted by a draw at Dundee days later noticed momentum swing in Celtic’s favour. Rangers misplaced solely two extra video games final season however they had been each in opposition to Brendan Rodgers’ aspect who sealed the league title and Scottish Cup.

The summer time was all about Rangers’ “big rebuild” because the membership seemed to chop wages, scale back the common age of the squad and add key gamers to assist problem Celtic this season.

Working alongside now-technical director Nils Koppen, 11 gamers had been signed and 16 departed – together with high-profile stars like Connor Goldson, Ryan Jack, Borna Barisic and John Lundstram.

Clement stated his job was a lot greater than the “small renovation” going through Celtic – however he knew followers nonetheless anticipated outcomes. Nonetheless, in contrast to his first few months within the job, Rangers didn’t produce these outcomes constantly sufficient.

A goalless draw of their Scottish Premiership opener away to Hearts was an indication of issues to come back, whereas defeat to Dynamo Kyiv ended their Champions League hopes.

Clement’s aspect would go on to drop 32 Premiership factors from 48 on the highway as they misplaced at Celtic Park, Kilmarnock and Aberdeen.

One other defeat to Celtic within the League Cup ultimate plus extra dropped factors away to St Mirren, Motherwell, Hibernian and Dundee noticed 2024 finish on a low.

There have been some indicators of promise alongside the way in which, together with a primary Previous Agency win for Clement, a draw in opposition to Spurs and progress to the Europa League final 16.

Clement stated he wouldn’t give up after that shock 1-0 defeat to Championship membership Queen’s Park within the Scottish Cup. Nonetheless, after months of stress, the choice was taken out of his arms as Rangers parted firm with one other supervisor.

Who might substitute Clement?

It’s a film Rangers followers have seen all too typically lately because the seek for a brand new supervisor begins.

If the earlier 4 instances are something to go by there will likely be loads of names linked. Reality be informed, that hypothesis began months in the past.

Steven Gerrard – who led Rangers to their final Scottish Premiership title in 2021 – is now a free agent after leaving his job at Al Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia. The previous Liverpool captain was the final supervisor to win the Scottish Premiership title in 2021 and will likely be somebody followers need to see again at Ibrox, like ex-midfielder Gennaro Gattuso, who has impressed at Hajduk Break up.

Former treble-winning Gers defender Kevin Muscat was interviewed for the job final day out and can little question be within the body once more. Since 2023 he has added to his league title wins in Australia and Japan with a top-flight crown in China at Shanghai Port.

Nearer to dwelling, Kilmarnock boss Derek McInnes‘ identify is all the time on the lips of supporters. The previous Ibrox participant as soon as turned the job down in 2017 however continues to draw admirers.

Following their promotion from the Championship, he led Killie to fourth final season and European soccer, with a top-six end nonetheless on the playing cards on this marketing campaign regardless of a tough begin.

Former Gers defender Russell Martin is also within the body and is out of labor, following his sacking by Southampton final 12 months.

When appointing Clement, former chair John Bennett and ex-CEO James Bisgrove led the search. They described it as a “carefully planned and comprehensive recruitment process”.

This time round, Stewart, Thornton and co know they can not afford to get it improper and assist the membership to interrupt this cycle of continuous managerial upheaval.

Rangers’ upcoming fixtures:

February 26: Kilmarnock (A) – Scottish Premiership, stay on Sky Sports activities
March 1: Motherwell (H) – Scottish Premiership
March 6: Fenerbahce (A) – Europa League last-16
March 13: Fenerbahce (H) – Europa League last-16
March 16: Celtic (A) – Scottish Premiership, stay on Sky Sports activities