Philippe Clement (born 22 March 1974) is a Belgian professional football manager and former player who is the current head coach of EFL Championship club Norwich City.

He began his professional career at Belgian clubs Beerschot and Genk between 1992 and 1998, thereafter he joined Coventry City in England for one season. Clement then returned to his homeland and spent ten seasons at Club Brugge, between 1999 and 2009, making over 300 appearances. At international level, Clement won 38 caps for the Belgium national team between 1998 and 2007 and scored one goal.

As a manager, Clement led Genk and Club Brugge to Belgian Pro League titles over three consecutive seasons. Abroad, he managed Monaco in Ligue 1 and Rangers in the Scottish Premiership, winning a Scottish League Cup.

Playing career

Born in Antwerp, Clement played as a centre-back or defensive midfielder for Beerschot, Genk, Coventry City and Club Brugge. Aged 35, at the end of his contract, he returned to his hometown in June 2009 and joined Germinal Beerschot.

Clement played 38 times with Belgium national team, and was in the team for the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000, missing the 2002 World Cup through a hamstring injury. His debut was as a substitute in a 2–2 friendly draw with Norway on 25 March 1998, and his only goal on 7 June 2003 was in a 2–2 draw with Bulgaria in Euro 2004 qualification.

Coaching career

Assistant and interim manager of Club Brugge

At the end of his playing career in the summer of 2011, Clement became head of Club Brugge's U21s. Aimé Anthuenis, his coach at Genk in 1998–99 and one of his mentors, recalled: "At Genk as well as with the [national team], I noticed that he was predisposed for the job. He was interested, asked questions, gave his opinion, behaved like a leader and had a great sense of teamwork."

For the 2012–13 season, Clement became assistant coach of the first team. In November 2012, he had his first experience as a manager on an interim basis for two games between the dismissal of Georges Leekens and the appointment of Juan Carlos Garrido. His debut as a senior manager on 8 November was a 2–2 home draw with Newcastle United in the UEFA Europa League group stage, and three days later lost 6–1 at leaders Anderlecht in the league.

Clement then became Garrido's assistant. In September 2013, he took over as interim coach following the Spaniard's dismissal and then remained assistant to Michel Preud'homme, until the end of the 2016–17 season. Club Brugge won three titles (the Belgian Cup in 2015 and the Championship and Super Cup in 2016), four runners-up and a third place in the Pro League during Clement's stay.

Beveren and Genk

On 24 May 2017, Clement was hired on a three-year deal for his first job as a permanent head coach, at Waasland-Beveren. In December that year, he moved to Genk, where he had previously played. He guided his team to the 2018 Belgian Cup final which they lost 1–0 to Standard Liège; he blamed the referee for allegedly allowing the other team to waste time with trivial injuries. The 2017–18 season ended with Europa League qualification after a 2–0 playoff win over Zulte Waregem and the team made the last 32 in the continental tournament before losing 4–1 at home to Slavia Prague; his side won the league in 2018–19.

Return to Club Brugge

In May 2019, Clement returned to Club Brugge on a three-year deal. His team lost the 2020 Belgian Cup final by a single goal to Royal Antwerp, and made the last 32 in the Europa League before a 6–1 elimination by Manchester United. He won the league title in his first two seasons, and was subsequently given a contract of indefinite length. On 17 July 2021, he won the Belgian Super Cup 3–2 against Genk in the Jan Breydel Stadium.

AS Monaco

On 3 January 2022, Clement left Club Brugge after three seasons and joined Monaco of the French Ligue 1 as head coach, following the departure of Niko Kovač. He signed a two-and-a-half-year contract until June 2024. His debut six days later was a goalless draw at Nantes. He lifted the team from sixth place to third in what remained of his first season, including a run of nine consecutive victories. In the space of two weeks in March, his team were eliminated from the Coupe de France semi-finals on penalties after a 2–2 draw again at Nantes, and from the last 16 of the Europa League by Braga.

Clement's team finished sixth and missed out on Europe at the end of the 2022-23 season leading to his dismissal. Monaco were eliminated from the third round of the domestic cup by Ligue 2 club Rodez on penalties at the Stade Louis II, and by Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League play-off round.

Rangers

Clement was appointed as manager of Scottish Premiership club Rangers on 15 October 2023, succeeding Michael Beale and interim manager Steven Davis. He signed a deal until the summer of 2027.

On his debut match, Clement's team won 4–0 at home to Hibernian. He won the Scottish League Cup on 17 December with a single goal by James Tavernier in the final against Aberdeen, also taking his unbeaten run to 14 games in all competitions. His run ended at 16 games on 30 December, with a 2–1 loss at Celtic in the Old Firm. Rangers finished runners-up to Celtic in the league and the Scottish Cup in Clement's first season, being defeated by their rivals four times in all competitions including the 2024 Scottish Cup final.

The day before the 2024–25 season began, Clement signed a contract extension by a further year to 2028. Rangers reached the League Cup final, losing on penalties after a 3–3 draw with Celtic on 15 December. A month later, the club's board backed Clement to continue in his position, despite an 18-point deficit behind their city rivals.

However, on 23 February 2025, Rangers sacked Clement. The team were 13 points behind Celtic in the Scottish Premiership table, having lost at home to St Mirren for the first time since 1991 and been knocked out the Scottish Cup at Ibrox in the Fifth Round by Scottish Championship club Queen's Park.

Norwich City

Clement was appointed head coach of EFL Championship club Norwich City on 18 November 2025, signing a deal until 2029 as successor to Liam Manning.

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueCupEuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Genk1995–96Belgian First Division331000000331
1996–97Belgian First Division230000000230
1997–98Belgian First Division302000000302
Total863000000863
Coventry City1998–99Premier League120200020160
Club Brugge1999–2000Belgian First Division314002000334
2000–01Belgian First Division164001000174
2001–02Belgian First Division326108100417
2002–03Belgian First Division2951010000405
2003–04Belgian First Division3142012000454
2004–05Belgian First Division244819100416
2005–06Belgian First Division224007000294
2006–07Belgian First Division292106100363
2007–08Belgian First Division132102100163
2008–09Belgian First Division223115100285
Total256381526250033345
Germinal Beerschot2009–10Belgian First Division262400000302
2010–11Belgian First Division280400000320
Total542800000622
Career total408432526252049750

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Belgium199880
199920
200010
200130
200230
200351
200480
200540
200610
200730
Total381

Scores and results list Belgium's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Clement goal.

List of international goals scored by Philippe Clement
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
17 June 2003Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia, BulgariaBulgaria2–12–2UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying

Managerial statistics

As of match played 11 April 2026

Managerial record by team and tenure
TeamFromToRecordRef.
PWDLWin %
Club Brugge (interim)4 November 201215 November 20122011000.0[citation needed]
Club Brugge (interim)19 September 201320 September 20131100100.0[citation needed]
Waasland-Beveren1 July 201718 December 201722958040.9[failed verification]
Genk18 December 201730 June 201982472114057.3[failed verification]
Club Brugge30 June 20193 January 2022129703326054.3[failed verification]
Monaco3 January 20224 June 202373371719050.7
Rangers15 October 202323 February 202586551615064.0[failed verification]
Norwich City18 November 2025Present301749056.7[failed verification]
Total4252369792055.5

Honours

Player

Genk

Club Brugge

Manager

Genk

Club Brugge

Rangers

Individual

External links