Clement pleased to be in charge

04 June 2015 04:32

Paul Clement feels the time is right to go it alone and emerge from beneath the wing of Carlo Ancelotti.

Clement was on Monday announced as Steve McClaren's successor at Derby on a three-year contract.

The 43-year-old's first managerial role follows his stint as assistant to Ancelotti at Real Madrid which ended last week after the Italian's sacking by the Spanish giants, who have since appointed former Liverpool and Chelsea boss Rafa Benitez.

Clement arrives at the iPro Stadium with a reputation as one of England's brightest young coaches after successful stints with Ancelotti at some of Europe's biggest clubs.

Together they won the Premier League at Chelsea, the French title at Paris St Germain and 12 months ago lifted the Champions League with Real.

After six years working under the man he describes as his mentor, Clement is relishing the prospect of being a number one.

''This is something that has been a burning ambition of mine for some time, since working at senior level,'' said Clement.

''I worked in development football for a long time and enjoyed that, but I enjoyed making the step up at Chelsea, with Gus Hiddink initially and then under Carlo Ancelotti, and thought at some point I'd want the opportunity to become a head coach.

''I have had a wonderful experience in the last six years working as an assistant to Carlo Ancelotti at three great clubs. Carlo Ancelotti gave me a lot of confidence, he is a great manager - and a great man. He has been my mentor.

''But my background is varied. Yes, in recent years I have worked with some very talented players at some really big clubs, and I feel now that I am at a big club. But before all that I was at Blackburn when they were in a relegation fight and earlier I worked with young players.

''So now I feel I have the right amount of skills and experience to make decisions on my own.

''Like I said, I always felt there would come a time when I'd want to go it alone and be a head coach in my own right. That time is now and it just seems right, what with Carlo leaving Real Madrid and set to take time out away from football.

''I have done it now and this is a fantastic opportunity for me. It is a big step, and one I am excited about, but I feel I have the skills to be able to deliver, otherwise I wouldn't have done it.''

Clement had offers from other clubs as he prepared to take his first step into management, with Sunderland thought to be a suitor prior to Thursday's appointment of Dick Advocaat.

However, the former PE teacher was not tempted by any advances until Derby came calling.

He said: ''I could have gone elsewhere, I had offers.

''I had some discussions with some other clubs over a lengthy period really, but I knew that when I was to go it alone it had to be the right club.

''Early on Derby did interest me. I said before, I feel I am at a big club. It is a club with tradition, a strong supporter base and infrastructure.

''I liked what [chief executive and president] Sam Rush had to say and his ambition for the club matched mine.''

Clement revealed fitness coach Karl Halabi has joined him at the club but he has yet to finalise the rest of his backroom team, with the futures of first-team coach Paul Simpson and vastly-experienced goalkeeper coach Eric Steele to be discussed following McClaren's departure.

''Coming with me is Karl Halabi, who has worked with me before at a few clubs, and he is coming in immediately,'' said Clement.

''As regards the rest of the staff, others are under consideration. And I mean that in terms of people already at the club and people possibly coming into the club.

''I haven't yet spoken to Paul Simpson and Eric Steele but I plan to do so.''

Source: PA