Philippe Clement’s former chairman at Genk insists the Rangers manager has that £30m Champions League pedigree.
Belgian boss Clement, 49, has swept into Scottish football and is threatening to sweep all in front of him after a revelatory four months in Glasgow.
The former AS Monaco manager took over a Rangers squad bereft of confidence and ideas and has transformed them into Scottish Premiership leaders.
Cutting a seven point gap at the top of the table, Philippe Clement has already lifted the League Cup – no matter what Alan Stubbs says – whilst the Europa League Last 16 beckons.
But for Genk chairman Peter Croonen, the Belgian coach almost single-handedly hauled two of the country’s top clubs into the Champions League group stages.
Philippe Clement has Champions League pedigree
In an interview with the Daily Record, Croonen claims that it was the influence of Philippe Clement which guided firstly KRC Genk and then Club Brugge to the Champions League.
Clement guided Genk to the Belgian Pro League title after only 18 months in the manager’s chair before moving to Club Brugge and winning three consecutive league trophies.
Peter Croonen has hailed the influence of the now Rangers manager on the country’s game and reckons without the baldy Belgian nether Genk nor Club Brugge would’ve been dining at European football’s top table.
“If I’m really honest, I can say I believe – to an important extent – we only played in the Champions League because Philippe was our head coach,” said Croonen.
“I can say the same for Brugge. I don’t think they would have played three times in the Champions League if it hadn’t been for him.
If you look at the history of Philippe he made us champions in his second year as head coach.
“He went to Brugge and made them champions for three years in a row. So he’s one of the only coaches in the history of Belgian football who won four consecutive championships with two different teams.
“So his impact on the teams that he coaches is really very important. I’m not surprised at all that he’s been so successful in Glasgow already.”
Extra £30m on line in Rangers title race
Peter Croonen also regrets Philippe Clement leaving Genk after only one title, despite the club’s pleas to have the manager stay.
Claiming that “the longer Rangers can keep Philippe the better for them”, it’s clear Clement has a big fan in the Genk chairman.
Rangers fans reading the interview will also certainly take note of the Champions League comments, with a revamped competition upcoming next season.
More matches and a bigger group stage means qualification will be worth an extra £30m to every participant, eye-watering cash from a Rangers perspective.
The Scottish Premiership winners will go straight into European football’s elite tournament and the situation has added an extra financial spice to this year’s title race.
If you ask Peter Croonen, not only do Rangers have the right man in place for a title tilt, but also to steer them to the Champions League land of milk and honey.
