IRELAND’S PAUL..

Clement hints at hot-seat hopes

PAUL CLEMENT hinted at his interest in the vacant Ireland job after claiming international management would be ‘an honour’.

The former Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Paris St Germain coach – he was righthand man to Carlo Ancelotti (inset) at all three – is on the lookout for his next job. Clement, 52, has managed Swansea City, Derby County and Reading in the past and spent three years on Don Givens’ staff with Ireland’s U21s between 2005 and 2008.

“I had a really good time when I was working with Ireland,” Clement said in an interview with Tribal Football.

“Don Givens was the head coach and he was a former team-mate of my father. We had a fantastic relationship.

“In that period, we also stepped up to the senior team for three games while they were going through a process of finding a new manager.

“They had some really good players at that time in Robbie Keane, Damien Duff, Shay Givens to name a few.

“We played Brazil in one game. It was amazing. A full house at Croke Park in Ireland.

“International football was exciting, so I don’t rule out the next job being in international football.”

Clement added: “What an honour it would be to lead a nation in a European Championship or a World Cup. That’s something I’d really like to do at some point.”

It is not clear if Clement has been contacted by FAI director of football Marc Canham or chief executive Jonathan Hill.

They are leading the hunt for Stephen Kenny’s successor and have repeatedly claimed an appointment is close.

Clement was sacked by Reading, Swansea and Derby after less than a year at each club.

And he lasted just seven months at

Belgian club Cercle

Brugge, who offered him a threeyear deal as manager in 2020.

Clement’s last role in football was as first-team coach to Frank

Lampard’s Everton in 2022 but he is eager to get back into management.

“I made a mistake in the past and accepted a job that probably wasn’t right for me,” he said without naming which side it was.

“I went in with the right intentions and thought I’d done the right amount of research. But it turned out very different and I think it put me back a little in my career.

“But I’m very conscious of trying to make a good choice for the next job.

“One that I’m good fit for.”