Philippe Clement has officially left his role as Rangers manager – and two of his stuttering backroom staff are set to leave with him.
Clement has been sacked by Rangers after a disastrous season domestically which saw the club crash out of all three domestic competitions before Valentine’s Day.
Impressive performances in Europe had Patrick Stewart publicly backing the manager last week but an abysmal 2-0 home defeat to St Mirren over the weekend was the final straw.
Rangers are now looking to make an interim appointment until the end of the season with the club also restructuring the Ibrox backroom staff.
Rangers to sack Philippe Clement coaching duo
Moroccan coach Issame Charai only joined Rangers as Philippe Clement’s assistant last month.
The former Strasbourg assistant had been working under Liam Rosenior in France and was signed to replace the outgoing Andries Ulderink.
Ex-Morocco U23s coach Charai has taken Rangers training this morning and could be in interim charge of the club when the Gers face Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership this week.
But there has been some upheaval in the Rangers coaching department with two of Philippe Clement’s most trusted lieutenants being handed their P45s.
Ex-Belgium star Stephan Van Der Heyden has been Clement’s right-hand man since the ex-Club Brugge boss moved to Scotland.
Former Rangers midfielder Alex Rae has also been a central homegrown component to Clement’s backroom staff after being part of Steven Davis’s interim team in October 2023.
According to the Rangers Review, it is understood both coaches will be leaving Rangers alongside Philippe Clement this February.
Rangers set sights on ex-Ibrox midfielder
Attentions are fixed on who Rangers will bring in to replace Philippe Clement with there still plenty to fight for this season.
A failure to finish 2nd in the Scottish Premiership table is unthinkable for Rangers, with a Champions League qualification spot up for grabs.
Rangers also have a Europa League Round of 16 tie with Fenerbahce on the horizon, Clement’s comments on Jose Mourinho backfiring ahead of the game.
Whilst reports have suggested Rangers are in talks with Steven Gerrard and Sean Dyche, it’s being claimed that the club has set their sights on Barry Ferguson.
The treble-winning former Rangers captain would take interim charge of the team until the end of the season before a more permanent appointment is made in the summer.
Rangers are in ‘advanced’ negotiations over a San Francisco 49ers takeover which should see a sizeable cash injection into the club later this year.
