Norwich Appoint Philippe Clement as New Head Coach
Norwich City have officially confirmed the appointment of Philippe Clement as their new head coach, with the Belgian manager signing a long-term contract that will keep him at Carrow Road until the summer of 2029. The 51-year-old returns to management after being dismissed by Scottish giants Rangers in February this year.
Championship Strugglers Secure Experienced Leader
Clement takes over from Liam Manning, who departed before the international break after just 17 games in charge. Under Manning's brief tenure, Norwich suffered a dismal run of form that left them second bottom in the Championship table, having failed to win any of their home matches this season.
The club's sporting director Ben Knapper revealed that Norwich had held discussions with several candidates before selecting Clement, including Gary O'Neil - a former Norwich player - and ex-Sweden and Blackburn manager Jon Dahl Tomasson.
Clement's Track Record and Backroom Team
Despite his disappointing conclusion at Rangers, where the team trailed significantly behind rivals Celtic in the Scottish Premiership, Clement brings an impressive CV to Norfolk. During his time at Ibrox, he secured the 2024 Premier Sports Cup and had previously guided Club Brugge to two domestic titles before his spell at Monaco.
Clement will be joined at Carrow Road by his trusted coach Stephan Van Der Heyden, reinforcing his backroom team as they face the considerable challenge of turning around Norwich's fortunes.
Manager's Ambition and Club's Vision Align
In his first statement since the appointment, Clement expressed enthusiasm about the project ahead. "I'm really excited by this story and opportunity," he said. "I've known of this club for a long time and, whilst we are not in a good moment at this time, we are excited to work together with the players and staff to turn things around."
The Belgian manager highlighted that meetings with the club's owners had convinced him this was the right move, citing their "big plans for the future" while acknowledging the immediate priority is improving results and restoring belief among supporters.
Sporting director Ben Knapper emphasised the alignment of values, stating: "Philippe is an incredibly experienced and prominent head coach, with clear values and beliefs that align with ours. We now have an incredible amount of work ahead of us to ensure we improve performances and results."
Clement's first test comes this Saturday with an away fixture against Birmingham, where he'll begin the crucial task of lifting Norwich from the Championship's relegation zone.
