Premier League strugglers Leeds United may have been handed an opportunity in the managerial market with reports indicating that Philippe Clement ‘expects’ to be sacked by Monaco.
With so much of the limelight hogged by Andoni Iraola, Arne Slot and Alfred Schreuder, reports linking former Club Brugge boss Philippe Clement with a move to Elland Road flew somewhat under the radar back in February.
According to De Telegraaf, the 49-year-old Belgian had admirers at Elland Road too.
And with reporter Sacha Tavolieri now claiming that Clement’s time at Ligue 1 giants Monaco is coming to an end, the phrase ‘watch this space’ comes to mind.
Could Monaco boss Philippe Clement be Leeds’ next manager?
“It smells of departure for Philippe Clement at Monaco,” Tavolieri writes on Twitter. “He expects to be sacked by ASM at the end of the season.”
A one-time Coventry City defender; Clement guided Club Brugge to successive Jupiler League titles. He then took Monaco to a third-place finish in 2021/22. His Monegasques side crashed out in the Champions League qualifiers, however, and won’t be back for next year.
A dreadful run of results – including a 4-0 home defeat by Montpellier – means Monaco are eight points outside the Champions League spots with just three matchdays remaining. The outstanding work Clement did at Club Brugge means he is stll likely to be an attractive option for a number of clubs, however, especially after claiming Belgium’s Coach of the Year award on two separate occasions.
“His teams play with great intensity and daring, including on the European stage,” Monaco’ director Paul Mitchell says of Clement.
“His ability to combine titles and the development of young players have made him one of the most prominent and successful coaches in Europe in recent years.”
An exciting, up-and-at-’em brand of football, coupled with a penchant for developing young talent? You can see why Leeds like Philippe Clement; the 38-time Belgian international a candidate to potentially help the Yorkshire giants rediscover the identity that once made them the neutral’s darlings under Marcelo Bielsa.
Leeds, despite an upturn in form under Allardyce, are still in the relegation zone. The Whites travel to West Ham on Sunday before hosting Tottenham Hotspur on final day.
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