Announced in pole position to take the helm of AS Monaco following the ouster of coach Niko Kovac on December 30, the Belgian Philippe Clément is officially the new coach of the Rocher club. This Monday, AS Monaco hired Belgian technician Philippe Clément for the next three seasons. Coach of Club Bruges since 2019 following a stint at RC Genk, the 47-year-old coach accepted this new challenge following an agreement between the three parties.
He was still under contract with Club Brugge, 2nd in D1, who finished last in Group A of the Champions League following notably a draw (1-1) then a defeat (4-1) once morest PSG. According to L’Équipe, the former international player of the Red Devils (38 caps) arrives on the Rock with his technical staff, or three assistants. He was in the stands to observe his new team on Sunday once morest Quevilly-Rouen (3-1 victory) in the round of 16 of the Coupe de France.
Philippe Clément therefore replaces the German Niko Kovac, thanked for a failed start to the season with an elimination in the Champions League play-off once morest Shakhtar Donetsk and a sixth place at the truce. The former coach of Frankfurt and Bayern Munich had yet finished 3rd in Ligue 1 last season fighting for the title to the end with Lille (1st), PSG (2nd), whom he had beaten twice in L1 , and Lyon (4th).
Since July 2020, Kovac had gleaned 1.95 points per game with AS Monaco, a record for the club. But that was not enough for him to keep his post. His strained relationship with part of the locker room and his difficult method got the better of his contract. His successor will therefore have the mission to do even better.