The criticism coming the way of former Trabzonspor coach Nenad Bjelica is doing little to suggest that Rangers chose the wrong man in new Ibrox boss Philippe Clement.
A few days before Clement was finally confirmed as Mick Beale’s replacement, reports emerged suggesting that Nenad Bjelica had thrown his hat into the ring, the Croatian on the lookout for a new club and a new challenge after a short-lived spell at Trabzonspor came to an end.
Turkish reporter Gokturk Kagan, however, wonders if there as a rather simple explanation as to why Bjelica’s name suddenly appeared in conjunction with the -then-vacant Rangers post.
It’s not what you know, perhaps, but who you know.
Rangers hire Philippe Clement
“Bjelica has journalists who promote him in Croatia and abroad. When necessary, they polish him and push him,” Kagan claims, speaking to Haberts.
“Thanks to that network, a few hours after he terminated his contract with Trabzonspor, the news about Bjelica signing for Rangers was served to the local media in Croatia.”
There is no real suggestion that 52-year-old Bjelica, who twice won Croatia’s top-flight with Dinamo Zagreb in 2018 and 2019, was ever really under consideration by Rangers. His record at Trabzonspor does little to suggest Bjelica was a better candidate than the ‘outstanding’ Philippe Clement either, losing eight of 16 games while serving up a style of play that would have been better suited to Twickenham than Wembley.
‘More rugby than football’
“He is incredibly bad at communicating with players,” Kagan adds. “The fans and the management were unhappy with the tactical approach that had not changed in six months. His matches were more like rugby than football.
“He assured the people at the club that everything would be fine and, in the end, he earned 2.3 million euros in six months.
“What happened on the way out is particularly interesting. He didn’t say goodbye to any player. And all the players are happy about his departure.”
Rangers did, however, consider the likes of Kevin Muscat, Kjetil Knutsen and Pascal Jansen before handing the reigns to Clement.
