Genk’s manager highlights what the ‘football animal’ lacked in Monaco, preventing a repetition of Philippe Clement’s regretful experience with Rangers.

Genk chairman Peter Croonen expressed his lingering regret over losing Philippe Clement and cautioned Rangers against making a similar mistake. In an exclusive interview with Record Sport, Croonen revealed the background of his decision to appoint Clement as the head coach at Genk, praising the qualities that contributed to Rangers’ unexpected resurgence in the Premiership.

Clement departed Genk for Brugge in 2019, shortly after guiding the team to the Pro League title in just 18 months. Despite winning three consecutive championships in Belgium, he moved to Monaco two years ago. With Clement now leading Rangers to the top of the Scottish Premiership, Croonen advised Rangers to retain him in Glasgow for as long as possible.

Croonen stated, “The longer Rangers can keep Philippe, the better for them. He has proven that he can repeat success over several seasons. The only thing that I regret about appointing him at Genk was that he left us after that first title. We asked him to stay, but he decided to leave.”

Clement’s rapid success with Rangers, overturning Celtic’s lead and securing the League Cup, surprised some, but Croonen emphasized that he was not astonished. He pointed to Clement’s track record of winning championships with Genk and Brugge and believed that Clement’s impact on teams was crucial for their success in competitions like the Champions League.

Croonen suggested that Clement intentionally chose to immerse himself in Glasgow’s passionate football environment after a relatively subdued 18 months in Monaco. Describing Clement as a “football animal,” Croonen highlighted that Glasgow provided the intensity and atmosphere that Clement missed in Monte Carlo. Despite not communicating regularly, Croonen expressed his continued appreciation for working with Clement during his time as president at Genk.