A poor string of results towards the end of the season cost Monaco a place in Europe – and it cost their coach Philippe Clement his job.Les Monegasques had a promising start of the season and did well to qualify from their UEFA Europa League group. Still, their form dropped off dramatically, leading them to a sixth-placed finish in Ligue 1 – and missing out on European football.After the last game of the season, the 2-1 loss to Toulouse on Saturday night, you could sense the Belgian would be dismissed a year before the end of this contract. Still, he chose to put on a brave face.”I want to fight for this club but it is up to the leaders to decide about my future.” ##NAJAVA_MECA_7298710##Clement lasted just 16 months at Stade Louis II. He took over the team at a difficult moment in the wake of Niko Kovac’s sacking and led the team to the Champions League play-offs. However, he lost to Bayer Leverkusen and had to settle for the Europa League group-stage qualification. The promise was high, but the reward was low.Despite the club’s struggles in Europe, Monaco were in the top five in Ligue 1 for most of the season, which would have guaranteed another European qualification for next season. However, with just one win in their last seven matches, the Principality club slumped to sixth, and therefore miss out on any form of European football for next season.L’AS Monaco annonce le départ de Philippe Clement ! 🚨Le coach belge quitte la Principauté après 18 mois à la tête des Monégasques 🔴⚪️ pic.twitter.com/4dTZKLKnR0— CANAL+ Foot (@CanalplusFoot) June 4, 2023 In a press release, Monaco thanked Clement and his staff for their work. Outgoing Sporting Director Paul Mitchell said, “It is a difficult decision to make because Philippe has given the best of himself and has always behaved professionally. On behalf of the club, I wish to thank him for all his efforts.”The club will now search for Clement’s successor, and former Leeds United manager Jesse Marsch, as well as Red Bull Salzburg’s Matthias Jaissle, have been linked to the now-vacant role.
