Reading: Paul Clement named new manager at Championship club

Paul Clement is the son of former QPR and England defender Dave Clement

Reading have appointed Paul Clement as manager on a three-year contract.

The former Derby County and Swansea City boss, 46, succeeds Jaap Stam after he parted company with the Royals on Wednesday in his second season.

Clement takes charge with Reading 20th in the Championship, three points above the relegation zone with eight games remaining this campaign.

"It's a great opportunity at a club I've always respected in my years in coaching," he said.

Clement, sacked in December by Swansea, will face QPR at home in his first match in charge on Friday, 30 March.

He is Reading's fifth permanent managerial appointment since Brian McDermott's first spell in charge ended in March 2013.

The club also confirmed on Friday that assistant manager Andries Ulderink and first team coach Said Bakkati have left following Stam's departure.

'Focus is on next eight games'

Clement said he is looking to bring in two coaches he has previously worked with before the QPR game.

"This is a club that's always been competitive at this level," he said. "The ambition in the immediate term is to secure the club in the Championship.

"Beyond that, there's a lot of ambition to take this club back into the Premier League after it came so close last season. My ambition is to coach at that level again.

"But, the focus has to be on the next eight games."

• Listen: Hear more from Paul Clement's first press conference as Reading manager

As well as time in charge of Derby and Swansea, Clement's coaching experience includes working as Carlo Ancelotti's assistant at Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.

"I'm delighted to have secured the services of a hugely experienced forward-thinking manager like Paul, who I've personally worked alongside during our time spent at Chelsea," Reading chief executive Ron Gourlay said.

"He has a rich understanding of English football having managed in both the Championship and the Premier League in recent years."

Clement won 14 of his 33 matches at Derby during his eight months in charge, but was relieved of his duties in February 2016 with the club just five points behind then Championship leaders Hull.

In January 2017, he was appointed boss at Swansea with the club in the Premier League relegation zone. He eventually guided them to 15th after an impressive run of form and was named Premier League manager of the month in January.

But, just three Premier League wins this season before Christmas cost him his job at the Liberty Stadium with the club bottom of the table.