Philippe Clement, a 50-year-old Belgian football manager, took the helm at Ibrox in October 2023 with high hopes of revitalizing Rangers. At the time of his appointment, Rangers trailed behind Celtic by seven points in the Scottish Premiership. Initially, Clement led the team to an impressive run of unbeaten matches, signaling a promising new chapter for the club. However, this optimism was short-lived as his tenure ended in disappointment following a series of poor performances and results.
Clement's early days at Rangers were marked by a strong start. The team went on a remarkable unbeaten streak, first achieving 16 matches without a loss, followed by another run lasting 14 games. These efforts brought Rangers level on points with their arch-rivals, Celtic, raising hopes of a successful season. Yet, their aspirations for the top-flight title were dashed, and cup competitions resulted in humiliation.
The turning point came when Celtic ended Clement's unbeaten record. Rangers fell to a 2-1 defeat at Parkhead, with their performance leaving much to be desired. A double from Hamza Igamane salvaged a draw for Rangers in another encounter, but they still found themselves 14 points adrift of Celtic. Clement struggled to comprehend the team's sudden dip in form and results.
"I think this is one of our better performances until now, this season, with the new squad." – Philippe Clement
Despite his words of encouragement following the loss to Celtic, Clement faced criticism from various quarters. Kris Boyd, a former Rangers player and pundit, was particularly vocal about his dissatisfaction with Clement's management.
"He needs to go now. Aberdeen are everything Rangers aren't. There is no way this can continue at Rangers and somebody needs to get a grip of it. From top to bottom right now, Rangers are leaderless. I don't care what anybody says, they are leaderless." – Kris Boyd
As the season progressed, Clement found himself under increasing pressure. The team's failure to secure the top-flight title and their dismal performances in cup competitions led to mounting calls for his dismissal. Despite these challenges, Clement remained determined and emphasized his role in keeping the team grounded.
Clement's frustrations were apparent following a League Cup final defeat to Celtic and a missed opportunity against Tottenham in the Europa League. He believed that his team deserved better outcomes in these crucial matches.
Rangers CEO Patrick Stewart offered Clement a brief reprieve after an embarrassing defeat to Queen's Park. However, the respite was short-lived as the team's form continued to falter, ultimately resulting in Clement's dismissal. At the time of his departure, Rangers were 13 points behind Celtic in the league standings.
"Those are things the board needs to decide. I believe I can get results with these players. But I am also very disappointed with what we showed today – and I am responsible for that. It was by far the worst performance from my time here." – Philippe Clement
Clement's tenure at Rangers ended amid a challenging period for the club. His inability to maintain consistent performances and secure victories in pivotal matches contributed to his downfall. Boyd's criticism reflected broader concerns about the direction of the team.
"It's about time people realise this isn't going anywhere fast. That was embarrassing from Rangers." – Kris Boyd
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