Sporting director with close links to Clement sharpens axe raising speculation over Gers boss
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Rangers manager Philippe Clement has already kicked back reports surrounding a potential return to Belgium once this season.
Now, we suspect the Ibrox manager might have to do so again as the Belgium national team reportedly consider the sacking of German-Italian manager Domenico Tedesco.
The Red Devils crashed out of Euro 2024 at the last 16 stage and have just finished 3rd in UEFA Nations League 1 Group B with pressure mounting on the ex-RB Leipzig boss.
With the pressure also building on Philippe Clement at Rangers, the Ibrox manager's close links to the nation's new sporting director have plenty asking the question in Glasgow.
Belgium mull over Domenico Tedesco's future
Belgian outlet GVA are reporting that Domenico Tedesco is on the verge of losing his job as Belgium manager after a stuttering few months in charge.
The 39-year-old ex-Schalke 04 coach is under heavy pressure following a 1-0 defeat to Israel which ended a disastrous UEFA Nations League campaign.
The report claims there are 'many questions' surrounding Tedesco's approach at the tournament with the final decision resting on the shoulder's of Royal Belgian FA sporting director Vincent Mannaert.
Mannaert has only just taken up the role with Belgium's national football association after spending 13 years as the CEO of Club Brugge.
Rangers manager Philippe Clement is a figure who is well-known to Mannaert, with the ex-Club Brugge chief having appointed the Gers boss manager at the club in 2019.
Whilst no official decision has been made on Domenico Tedesco, the links between Philippe Clement and Vincent Mannaert will be of interest to Rangers fans as speculation ramps up over a successor.
Philippe Clement on Rangers exit links
Rangers manager Philippe Clement has been clear that he is fully committed to seeing the project at Ibrox through to completion.
The 50-year-old might be facing some criticism from Ibrox supporters, but Clement insists he has broad enough shoulders as he steers the Ibrox squad through something of an on and off pitch mire.
Squad mismanagement has led to a rebuild on a shoestring budget whilst the ongoing hierarchal chaos at the top of the marble staircase is an unwelcome distraction.
Throw in the chaos of the delay to the Copland Stand upgrade and the subsequent rehousing at Hampden and suddenly it's been a perfect storm for Clement to navigate.
Nonetheless, Philippe Clement signed a new contract with Rangers on the eve of the new season and this has acted as a symbolic gesture with regards the commitment of both parties.
It's something the Rangers manager touched on earlier in the season when Clement was linked with Anderlecht and a return to Belgian football.
"It's really clear I engaged myself long-term for Rangers last month," Clement told the press in late September.
"Whoever comes, whatever team comes, I'm not going to go away.
"Really clear. I want this project with the club to make it really successful for the future.
"We all know we need time for that, we need a few transfer windows for that, we need a lot of work to do for that.
"And that's what I want to do because I love the city, I love the club, I love the dynamic at Ibrox with the fans, so I am here to stay, very clear."
