New Era Begins at Carrow Road
Norwich City have officially announced the appointment of Philippe Clement as their new head coach, marking a significant move for the struggling Championship club. The Belgian manager, who was dismissed by Rangers in February, has signed a substantial contract that will keep him at Carrow Road until the summer of 2029.
Addressing a Challenging Situation
Clement steps into the role following the departure of Liam Manning, who was relieved of his duties before the international break. Under Manning's brief tenure of just 17 games, Norwich suffered the dismal record of losing every single home match this season, leaving the team second from bottom in the Championship table. The club's hierarchy conducted an extensive search for a successor, holding talks with several candidates including Gary O'Neil and former Blackburn manager Jon Dahl Tomasson, before deciding on the experienced Clement.
The 51-year-old brings a proven track record to Norfolk, despite his recent exit from Ibrox. During his time in Scotland, Clement secured the 2024 Premier Sports Cup and previously demonstrated his trophy-winning capabilities by guiding Club Brugge to two domestic league titles before his spell at Monaco.
Ambitious Plans and Immediate Challenges
In his first statements as Norwich boss, Clement expressed his enthusiasm for the project. "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."
Clement revealed that meetings with the club's owners and their future ambitions convinced him this was the right move. He acknowledged the immediate task of improving results while building for the long term. The Belgian will be joined at Carrow Road by his trusted coach, Stephan Van Der Heyden.
Norwich sporting director Ben Knapper voiced his confidence in the appointment, 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, providing an immediate opportunity to begin the turnaround the club desperately needs.
