Norwich City have made a significant move to stabilise their position in the Championship by appointing Philippe Clement as their new head coach. The 51-year-old Belgian has signed a three-and-a-half-year contract at Carrow Road, taking over from Liam Manning, who was dismissed after failing to make a meaningful impact since his arrival from Bristol City. Read more about Clement Set to Take Charge as Norwich Target Revival.
Clement, who parted ways with Rangers earlier this year, has been selective about his next career step. According to Scott Coyne, a Belgian football podcaster, Clement has attracted considerable interest from various clubs but has turned down offers that did not align with his professional vision. Notably, he rejected an approach from Slavia Prague, a club keen to secure his management. “Philippe's had a lot of interest in him for a number of months now,” Coyne informed BBC Radio Norfolk, adding that discussions with Ajax also took place, although the Dutch club is currently facing its own challenges.
This careful approach by Clement reflects the difficulties he faced at Rangers, where the high-pressure environment ultimately led to his dismissal. "It was important that wherever he went next, he went somewhere where he was going to be able to work perhaps with slightly less media focus and hysteria," Coyne explained.
Clement arrives at Norwich with an impressive managerial record, having enjoyed success in Belgium, where he secured three consecutive top-flight titles—first with Genk and then with Club Brugge. “When you look at his CV and his track record, particularly during his time in Belgium, it really is very impressive,” noted Coyne. “He has a reputation for being a real leader and a talismanic figure inside the clubs, so it’s a really interesting appointment from Norwich's perspective.” Read more about O'Neil Excluded as Norwich City Seek New Head Coach.
Clement's immediate challenge will be to steer Norwich away from the relegation zone, a pressing task given the team's recent form. The Canaries currently find themselves perilously close to the drop zone, alongside Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday, following a disappointing start to the season. The pressure is on Clement to restore confidence in a squad that requires revitalisation after a challenging few months.
Chris Sutton, a former Norwich player, has shared his insights on Clement’s appointment, emphasising his extensive experience and pragmatic approach to management. “Right now Norwich are in a relegation scrap. He’s the type of manager who will come in, assess what he’s got and won’t play fantasy football. He’ll be quite pragmatic in the way that he plays, and I think that’s a good thing,” Sutton said.
Clement’s inaugural test in charge will occur this Saturday when Norwich face a challenging away match against Birmingham City, a team currently four points off the play-off positions.