Philippe Clement’s Future in Doubt Following Major Rangers Announcement

While Philippe Clement is reportedly a leading contender to replace the struggling Dominico Tedesco as Belgium’s national team manager, he remains at Rangers for now, unless an official offer comes through. With the recent changes announced in Rangers’ boardroom, the question arises: how will this impact Clement’s future at Ibrox?

The promotion of former Director of Football Recruitment, Nils Koppen, to Technical Director has caused significant frustration among Rangers supporters, who are disheartened by the apparent lack of ambition behind the move.

The major implication of Nils Koppen’s promotion could be its impact on Philippe Clement.

While their working relationship has primarily focused on football recruitment—transfers, scouting, and data analysis—the shift in Koppen’s role could alter the dynamic between them, despite the two having already worked closely together.

With Nils Koppen’s promotion, he now holds the reins at Ibrox, overseeing all football-related operations within the club.

Much like his predecessor Ross Wilson, Koppen has effectively become the top decision-maker, placing him well above Philippe Clement in the hierarchy. This shift means Koppen now has the final say on anything Clement wants to implement.

So, what’s the impact?

Clement now requires Koppen’s approval for any football-related decisions, which some might say is akin to the blind leading the blind, but that’s a discussion for another time.

The key point is that Clement is now under the authority of a man who previously brought in players like Fabio Silva and Mohamed Diomande. While Clement remains in charge of selection and tactics, Koppen holds the ultimate power as of today.

This, however, isn’t entirely new for Clement. As we’ve discussed before, working under a Technical Director is something Clement is familiar with and actually prefers. It allows him to focus on managing the players and tactics, without getting bogged down in the complexities of signing, scouting, or negotiating with potential recruits.

The problem Clement may face is that Koppen’s track record at Rangers has been far from impressive. The squad that Koppen, now the Technical Director, has provided for Clement is arguably underwhelming at best. And now, this same person has full control over the club’s football operations?

Does Clement trust Koppen?

While we often critique Clement’s tactics and decisions, Koppen isn’t without his flaws either. Now, with complete authority over Rangers’ football strategy and future, one has to wonder how Clement feels about this shift in power.

This could go one of two ways: it might push Clement closer to leaving Rangers, potentially seeking the Belgium job if it’s offered, or it could provide him with reassurance, knowing that someone he trusts is overseeing the club’s footballing direction.

At this stage, it’s impossible to predict which path Clement will take.

Source: https://www.ibroxnoise.co.uk/2024/11/philippe-clement-may-leave-after-big-rangers-announcement/