Philippe Clement’s impact at Rangers since his arrival in October has been astounding, with a Scottish League Cup win under his belt already. It’s a shame that he wasn’t appointed prior to the summer transfer window, as the start to the 2023-2024 campaign could have been much different.

Still, it seems that the only way is up for Clement at the Ibrox, and there’s a chance that he could make a name for himself as the best manager that Rangers have had in the last decade. Could he go on to be even better than Steven Gerrard?

Clement’s Appointment a Coup for Rangers

Michael Beale’s time at Rangers was statistically successful, with his win percentage of 72.09 per cent putting him above every manager since Ally McCoist. However, the now Sunderland boss had nothing to show for it and was ultimately unsuccessful during his one season stint at the club. He’ll now only be remembered for the poor start to this campaign, and for giving Rangers a tough task to get back on top.

Clement’s early days as Rangers manager have been fantastic, and it already seems as though his appointment was a coup for the club. After his first 15 matches, he had suffered no losses and only three draws. This turnaround has put Rangers back into the title discussion in the football betting markets, with them now almost level with Celtic in the bookies’ estimations. It would certainly be unwise to bet against the Gers when they’re in this sort of form, which is why they are usually listed as odds-on to win their games.

Prior to joining Rangers, Clement’s managerial record was exceptional. At Genk, Club Brugge, and Monaco, his win percentage was over 50 percent. He also picked up various titles with the former two, including the Belgian First Division twice with Club Brugge.

Will be Hard to Top Gerrard’s Record-Breaking Season

There’s still a long way to go for Clement to cement himself as the best Rangers manager in a decade, and it will be easier to get a better sense of his long-term impact after a couple of transfer windows. In terms of who he has to beat, Gerrard currently holds the crown for the best manager since McCoist left the position.

During Gerrard’s three seasons at Ibrox, the former Liverpool player improved massively as a tactician. The 2020-21 campaign was the greatest in recent memory, and the first title for the club since the 2010-11 season. Along with two derby wins over Celtic that year, Gerrard managed to win the league without losing a single match. It will be hard for anyone to top that 102 point season, but Clement could be the man to do so in the years ahead.

Clement arrived at the Ibrox with great pedigree, and he’s already living up to his reputation as a master tactician. Hopefully he will go on to be the best manager seen in these parts in the last decade, bringing more success than Gerrard.