To turn the page on a disastrous season, Monaco is cleaning up. Very weakened for several weeks, coach Philippe Clement did not survive the club’s 6th place in Ligue 1 and especially the non-qualification for Europe. He was thus thanked.
Clement, 49, was recruited in January 2022 to replace Croatian Niko Kovac. Sunday, the day after another defeat at home against Toulouse (2-1), he was received by his management, who told him that he would no longer be the coach next season, when he still had one year contract.
The turning point of the slap received in Lens
The decision to sack Clement and his staff, validated by the owner of ASM Dmitri Rybolovlev, was strongly pushed by the vice-president and son-in-law of the Russian billionaire, the Uruguayan Juan Sartori. Paul Mitchell, sports director also departing and who should be replaced by the Brazilian Thiago Scuro, only endorsed a decision taken at a higher hierarchical level.
After the defeat against Toulouse, Clement knew he was very much in danger. He admitted his fatigue after having fought for long weeks to straighten the bar with a workforce less and less involved. He also assumed his responsibilities, especially after the slap received in Lens (3-0) on April 22, when Monaco could still aim for the podium. “After that, we collapsed for several weeks,” he analyzed.
The same stats as Kovac
In the end, the Belgian technician will have led 57 L1 matches in Monaco, as many as Kovac, his predecessor. Clement has 31 wins, 12 draws and 14 losses, while the Croatian has accumulated 32 wins, 11 draws and 14 losses: same results, same award…
From now on, Monaco must rebuild its sporting direction. Mitchell and Scuro, who has yet to be officially inducted, need to find a coach quickly. Even a press release indicates that the club “allows itself time for reflection”, time is running out and research is flowing in all directions. First within the Red Bull galaxy, where the names of Matthias Jaissle, Salzburg coach, and the American Jesse Marsch, sacked from Leeds last February and also former Salzburg (2019-2021), are mentioned. ) and Leipzig (2021). The desire to bring back former club legend Marcelo Gallardo also exists and Julien Stephan has been offered.
The future coach will have to integrate the fact that the club must balance its accounts. However, once again deprived of Europe, the ASM must sell several elements. French internationals Disasi and Fofana, Brazilian full-backs Vanderson and Henrique have the best market value. But others have not given satisfaction and could be pushed out like Volland, Minamino or Boadu. Wissam Ben Yedder, who apologized to the ultras on Saturday after the defeat, wants him to complete the last year of a pharaonic contract.