“Football Animal” Clement here to “win trophies”. Celtic might have something to say about that…

In 2001, when Martin O’Neill took over at Celtic, he made an early address to the fans.

Everybody remembers it.

It was at a time when Celtic weren’t winning a lot, and David Murray was mouthing off about spending a tenner for every fiver we spent.

Here’s what O’Neill had to say:

“It’s an absolute honour for me to be the manager here, an absolute honour,” Martin O’Neill said. “I will do everything I possibly can to bring some success to this club.”

Note the language, everything I possibly can to bring some success to the club.

Not trophies, not titles, not cups.

Some success.

Now, contrast what Philippe Clement had to say yesterday upon being unveiled as manager of the Ibrox outfit:

“If I look at the wall here and all the (trophies) the club has won in several competitions – those are the things I love.”

“I’m a winner and I want to win trophies.”

Two minutes in the door and he’s already talking about winning trophies.

Note how O’Neill was tactful enough not to use that language back in 2000.

Some success.

Clement is in a similar position to what Martin O’Neill was in back then.

His club are struggling to win trophies.

Celtic are now the dominant force in Scottish football, just as Rangers 1872 were in back 2000.

O’Neill immediately showed respect to Rangers 1872 upon his arrival.

He stated they were the benchmark in Scottish football.

We’re all well aware of what happened after that.

In Clement’s case, it seems as if, like every other new manager who walks into the Ibrox trophy room, that he has been duped into believing trophies are their God given right.

You see, that’s the perception the Ibrox trophy room gives to newcomers.

What Clement saw in there is the success of a now dead football club.

The one he has taken over has won just 2 trophies in it’s short 11 year existence.

Living on past glories is what has destroyed the career of almost every manager who has gone before Clement.

I discussed this in detail in yesterday’s article.

You could forgive people for being dazzled by the bright silvery glow of the Ibrox trophy room.

But every manager who walks in there immediately thinks. “Wow, this is what I’ve got to live up to?”

Then that automatically translates into opening addresses about winning trophies.

Ultimately, for every manager who has walked into that room in the last 11 years, well, that’s been the beginning of the end.

Because to expect them to emulate the success of the old club, is a totally unrealistic expectation.

You would think by now, after 11 years, and 2 trophies later, the fans and the hierarchy of that club would start to grasp this?

All Clement has to do is look across the city.

Celtic are a financial juggernaut, the Ibrox side will never have the resources we have.

It is physically impossible.

We have a 10,000 seat advantage over them every season.

That translates into 10,000 guaranteed season tickets, roughly £5,000,000 extra in revenue.

And that’s just the beginning.

Our player trading model, for years now, has been vastly superior to theirs.

They have tried desperately to emulate it, but have only achieved modest success in this regard.

I could go on all day about the advantages we have, let alone the trophies we’ve won, but I don’t need to.

You all know, and can see what they are.

Over at Ibrox, they choose to ignore this reality.

They continue to pursue the impossible.

This is because they believe they are the same club that died in 2012.

They are not.

Every new manager who walks through the door there waxes lyrical about winning trophies.

Very few actually do.

Will Clement buck that trend?

Well you’d have to say, he’s been given a very good chance to do so now that Celtic are out of the League Cup.

He has the chance to win a trophy early in his Ibrox career.

Not many managers over there in the last 11 years have been gifted that opportunity.

Let’s see whether Clement shows respect to Hearts, or whether he is completely dismissive of them.

Hubris has been the downfall of many an Ibrox manager in the last 11 years.

It seems to be contagious over there.

Most managers pick it up in the Ibrox trophy room.

Living on past glories is what prevents that club from moving forward.

It is most likely what will prevent Philippe Clement from being a success at Ibrox.

He stated he is a “football animal”.

Well he’s just entered a world where the fans become animals if success is not delivered.

Every second week, there will be 50,000 of them and one of him.

We’ll see how much of an animal he is when he loses a game or two.

And the Ibrox board feed him to the baying hoards.

Just like the 10 managers before him since 2012.