February 24 – Scottish giants Rangers have sacked under-fire coach Philippe Clement in the aftermath of back-to-back home defeats, the latest being Saturday’s 2-0 setback against St Mirren.
Clement, 50, had been facing mounting pressure throughout a dismal campaign and the Scottish Premiership club have now put the Belgian out of his misery after less than two years in charge.
“Rangers Football Club can confirm it has tonight parted company with men’s first-team manager, Philippe Clement,” a club statement said.
“The club would like to put on record their sincere thanks to Philippe for his hard work and dedication during his spell in charge. A further update from the club will follow in due course.”
Rangers’ humiliating Scottish Cup exit against second tier Queen’s Park two weeks ago left Clement in a desperate battle to avoid the axe. But a first home loss to St Mirren since 1991 proved to be the final straw amid growing fan unrest.
Clement, the former Club Brugge and Monaco coach, had described the display against St Mirren as “by far the worst I’ve seen in all the time I’ve been here”.
Second-placed Rangers are currently 13 points behind arch-rivals Celtic in the league and although Clement has led them to the last 16 of the Europa League, where they will face Fenerbahce, they are set to end the season without a domestic trophy.
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