Celtic wanted Rangers boss Philippe Clement when Ange Postecoglou left for Tottenham but factor was problematic
Philippe Clement was “high up” on the list of replacements for Ange Postecoglou at Celtic before he ended up in the Rangers job, according to Keith Jackson.
The Daily Record journalist reported on 4 December that the Belgian was still in place at Monaco at the time and the “fat tax free wedge” he was earning “might have proved problematic” to negotiations at Parkhead, but the Gers manager was on a “very short” list of possible candidates for the Hoops.
Ultimately Celtic decided to bring back Brendan Rodgers after Postecoglou departed for Tottenham but Clement was reportedly a person of “considerable interest” across Glasgow.
The Ibrox boss was sacked at Monaco soon after Rodgers returned to the SPFL having reportedly lost the dressing room at the Ligue 1 club, with Jackson suggesting he would like to dispense with a significant number of his current squad now.
Sliding doors
The revelation will add another element of intrigue to Clement’s first Old Firm derby on 30 December, as if it needed one, if he could feasibly have been sitting on the opposing bench.
Given the apparent damage Michael Beale’s summer overhaul has done there will be plenty of Rangers supporters, and likely some elements of the hierarchy, who will be wishing they had also been considering their current manager at the time as well.
Notwithstanding his confusing commitment to the underperforming Sam Lammers Clement has largely had a positive effect since his arrival at Ibrox.
Until the back-to-back draws against Aberdeen and Aris Limassol he had lifted fortunes considerably, but the new manager bounce looks like it is starting to wear off.
Still, he has the opportunity to win a trophy before Rodgers does this season with the Viaplay Cup final against the Dons a fortnight away on 17 December.
But whether he is going to ultimately have any chance of getting past the Northern Irishman in the SPFL seems likely to depend on what business can be done in January at this stage.
In other Rangers news, Michael Stewart has been impressed by Clement and what he will do with his players after “he’s battered them with a stick”.