Rangers appoint Philippe Clement as new manager to replace Michael Beale

Rangers have appointed Philippe Clement as their new manager on a three-and-a-half year deal.

The Belgian replaces Michael Beale who was sacked earlier this month after a poor start to the season that leaves them seven points behind league leaders Celtic.

The Ibrox club say they have appointed “an outstanding candidate with a track record of winning titles”.

Former club captain Steven Davis took over in a caretaker basis for two games before the international break.

The new man will now take charge of his first game against Hibernian on Saturday after becoming the club’s fourth permanent manager in as many years.

A former Belgium international as a player, he arrives at Ibrox following a spell at Monaco that came to an end in June.

He won three consecutive titles in Belgium with Genk and Club Brugge between 2019 and 2021 will be hoping to bring some of that success to the blue side of Glasgow.

Clement will have a chance for his first piece of silverware at the club almost straight away in the League Cup with the club in a Hampden semi-final against Hearts early next month before a potential final in December if they get past Steven Naismith’s men.

💙 Welcome to #RangersFC, @philippe_clemnt #RangersFC is today delighted to confirm the appointment of Philippe Clement as the club’s new men’s first-team manager.

👉 https://t.co/wvKAcWhIFu pic.twitter.com/dGqlDjjnNn
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) October 15, 2023

Rangers confirmed the appointment on Sunday morning and Clement said he was excited by the challenge.

“I am honoured to have been appointed as the new manager of Rangers Football Club and I’d like to thank the board for giving me this opportunity,” he said.

“I am hugely excited by this chance to achieve success at one of Europe’s most iconic clubs across four competitions in what remains of this season and beyond.

“I am looking forward to meeting with the players in the coming days and to meeting our supporters at next Saturday’s home match with Hibernian, as we set out together to create a successful, winning Rangers.”

Rangers chairman, John Bennett commented: “I would like to offer my warm congratulations to Philippe as he becomes our 19th manager.

“His appointment comes at the end of a carefully planned and comprehensive recruitment process. A team led by our CEO James Bisgrove, members of the board, and former Rangers player and manager Graeme Souness, has spent the last 10 days interviewing several high calibre candidates, with those individuals undergoing a rigorous interview and vetting process. We thank all candidates for their interest in the position.

“Philippe proved to be the outstanding candidate across all the key criteria, reinforced by his track record of winning titles and I wish him every success as he leads us forward.”