Paul Clement: Managing Swansea was 'very challenging' this season
- Published
Paul Clement urges on his players against West Brom on 9 December, a game they won 1-0
Paul Clement says he was managing Swansea City under "very challenging circumstances" this season.
The 45-year-old was sacked by bottom-of-the-table Swansea on Wednesday after taking just 12 points and three wins from 18 Premier League games.
The club sold midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson for £45m in the summer and summer loan signing Renato Sanches has failed to impress.
"This season I was unable to replicate last season's results," Clement said.
Clement said his "proudest and greatest achievement" in football coaching came in guiding Swansea to Premier League survival last season.
In a statement, external issued by the League Managers Association, Clement said he left "with great sadness and regret".
"I would like to thank the majority owners Steve Kaplan and Jason Levien for the opportunity to lead the team for the past 12 months as well as the Supporters Trust and the many loyal fans of the club," he said.
"When I arrived at Swansea City on 3 January, the team had 12 points and were bottom of the league.
"Together we managed to achieve 29 points in 19 games, culminating in a 15th place finish and ensuring the club would compete in the Premier League for a seventh consecutive year."
Before joining Swansea, Clement had worked as Carlo Ancelotti's assistant manager at Chelsea, Paris St-Germain and Real Madrid.
He had one, short-lived managerial stint at Derby County which ended in 2016 and he was then reunited with Ancelotti at Bayern Munich.
Clement joined Swansea on a two-and-a-half-year deal in January, becoming the club's third boss of the 2016-17 season following the departures of Bob Bradley and Francesco Guidolin.
Swansea will prepare to host Crystal Palace on Saturday, 23 December under caretaker manager Leon Britton, who could also be in charge when they go to Liverpool on Boxing Day.
- Published21 December 2017
- Published20 December 2017
