Philippe Clement is back in management, and his return comes with no shortage of intrigue.
The former Rangers manager was officially confirmed this week as the new head coach of Norwich City, taking charge of a side stranded in 23rd place in the English Championship and in urgent need of direction.
For Clement, it marks his first role since his abrupt departure from Ibrox in February, a spell that ultimately unravelled despite early promise and a League Cup triumph over Aberdeen at Hampden within his first few months in Scotland.
Clement arrives at Carrow Road with trusted lieutenant Stephan Van Der Heyden, who again takes up the role of assistant manager.
The pair will be tasked with stabilising a Norwich team whose slide down the Championship table has left supporters anxious and the club’s hierarchy seeking a steady hand. Clement, who has lifted league titles in Belgium and maintained a reputation as a modern, analytically minded coach, represents a decisive shift from the disjointed football Norwich have displayed this season.
Yet amid the usual introductory fanfare, it was one remark that caught the attention of Rangers supporters - and perhaps a few inside the Norwich dressing room.
Speaking on his first day, Clement revealed he had previously attempted to bring Scotland international and Canaries stalwart Kenny McLean back to Glasgow during his Rangers tenure.
He said: “At my old club I tried to get Kenny to come back to Scotland but we didn’t achieve that one.”
The timing of the revelation is striking. McLean is currently enjoying one of the highest moments of his career after scoring a stunning 98th-minute lob from the halfway line against Denmark on Tuesday night.
His audacious finish capped Scotland’s 4–2 victory, sealing qualification for the 2026 World Cup – his nation’s first appearance on the global stage since 1998.
It is a moment already etched into Scottish football folklore, delivered by a player whose leadership, versatility, and competitive edge have long been appreciated at Norwich and within Steve Clarke’s national setup – even if he has been underappreciated by the Tartan Army at times.
For Clement, inheriting a squad containing a player riding such a historic high could prove invaluable.
McLean, one of Norwich’s senior figures, now enters this new chapter under a manager who once tried to lure him home.
Their connection adds an intriguing layer to Clement’s appointment, hinting at a potentially key relationship at the heart of Norwich’s survival fight.