JEREMY Clement’s time at Rangers may have been over in a flash but walking out at Ibrox to ‘Simply the Best’ sent shivers down his spine.
The Frenchman was one of Paul Le Guen’s first acquisitions when he prized him away from former club Lyon in the summer of 2006.
Clement was a rare glimmer of light in what was a disastrous six-month tenure but the departure of Le Guen would spell the end of his stay in Glasgow and he would soon follow his countryman to PSG just seven months into his contract.
Now, having retired from the game at the age of 35 almost two years ago, Clement has opened up on his time spent down Edmiston Drive in his recently-released autobiography titled ‘Pour le Plaisir’ which translates as ‘For Pleasure’.
He admits to being blown away by Rangers’ determination to land his signature despite his initial reservations about joining.
He said: “When Paul Le Guen left Lyon to coach Glasgow Rangers, he asked me to join him.
“I trusted in him and knew what to expect, however, at 22, I had never really travelled before and was still living with my parents.
“I remember perfectly the two days in Glasgow with my wife Sylvia and my agent.
“Initially, we had considered this trip as a mini-vacation. I did not imagine myself agreeing to move so far from my house.
“Then, after the discussions with Rangers, the idea of trying the adventure appealed to me, especially that they had really pulled out all the stops to sign me.
“Beyond the salary, my agent insisted on the notion of getting guaranteed game time.
“In my mind, it wasn't my salary that mattered but to be able to give something concrete to my loved ones so that they can come and see us, Sylvia and me.
“The club offered me some plane tickets to our two families. This gesture meant a lot to me, because it meant that Rangers understood what mattered most to me and since there was a line direct between Glasgow and Grenoble Saint-Geoirs airport, a quarter of an hour from home, it was perfect for our family.
“If Sylvia had refused to follow me, I don't think I would never have left.
“As Sylvia was close to her family, I was afraid that she would refuse, but she accepted, and so we left the nest to settle in a large apartment right in the heart of Glasgow in the cold Scottish rain.
“I spent almost seven months in Scotland and love this country. The people there are great. There is a constant atmosphere in the streets. In the evening, the women go out with each other, like the men, without the slightest feeling of insecurity.
“It all seemed simple to me, even driving on the left and betting on the dog racing. Of course, it rains there five days out of seven, but the atmosphere makes you forget the weather.
“Between training and matches, I took the time to visit Glasgow and Edinburgh Castle, as well as the monument dedicated to William Wallace. I loved our walks in the middle of nature, where we were ecstatic in front of their magnificent Highland cows, red with long hair and erect horns toward the sky.
“I liked to drink pints in old churches transformed into giant pubs and taste the haggis.”
Clement was every inch the cultured midfielder and admitted adjusting to Scottish football took some time to adapt to.
He said: “On the football side, the game differs markedly from the game in France.
“Of course, the rules are the same, but the game is quite distinct. It's more brutal, more offensive, less technical or tactical.
“It's heart football, the Scots really play with their guts. There is more commitment, more fight, and you can't expect less from virile descendants of the Highlanders.”
Like many players, it wouldn’t take long for Clement to feel just what it meant to play for Rangers.
An he admits it was a feeling like no other to walk out at Ibrox to the club's favoured anthem.
He said: “The Rangers supporters are extraordinary, and their fervour, even more. They are very demanding towards the players.
“The Rangers anthem is Simply the Best, by Tina Turner. To realise the power that emanates from these supporters, go to YouTube and type 'Simply the Best, Glasgow Rangers'.
“Imagine yourself in the locker room hallway about to enter the field and the effect produced when this song goes up the stands, it’s impressive.
“I had chills before I entered Ibrox Park.
“At Rangers, I witnessed some impressive moments that motivate me more than anything, for example, there was a time a player got a standing ovation after missing a penalty.
“In 17 years of my career, I have never seen this in a stadium in France and they had so much respect for the elders, the past and traditions.
“This was felt on a daily basis, with the attitudes and the behaviour of people in the streets, but also in the stadium itself. The locker rooms were vintage, in the good sense of the term, since there were many wooden and antique copper pegs. Access to the private lounge post-match where families came to wait for us, was only possible in the correct dress. No jeans, sneakers and tracksuits."
Clement was helped to settle into Glasgow life by former Rangers hero Dado Prso.
The pair struck up a close friendship that remains strong to this day.
He was bowled over by the Croatian's presence and the stature he was held in by the Light Blues faithful.
He said: “At Rangers, I had the immense chance to meet Dado.
“I found him incredible, he was a Croatian colossus.
“We quickly became friends. He had lived for more than 20 years in France, and his wife Carole was French.
“He took me under his wing and welcomed me to Scotland.
“We shared the same values on and off the pitch, and his experience was immense.
“He had known the war in his country and had humbly climbed all levels of football to reach Ligue 1, not without falling several times.
“In Glasgow, he was rightly idolised. The Rangers supporters had written him a song: ‘There's only one Dado Prso’, chanted to the famous tune of Guantanamera.
“He never cheated, and on the pitch, he always gave 300%.
“Dado was a simple, generous man, always ready to have a laugh and one of those players who leave a mark on you.
“When we were in Scotland he was, for me, William Wallace, someone I would have followed with closed eyes if he had asked me to fight alongside him.”
Despite settling into life at Ibrox, on the pitch Rangers were a mess with Le Guen relieved of his duties following a public spat with Barry Ferguson after stripping him of the captaincy.
Clement gave his account on the turn of events that would ultimately lead to Le Guen’s downfall.
He said: “I had acclimatised well, and I think the management of the club and the supporters liked me because I stuck to the values of the club.
“Unfortunately, the experience was cut short. Paul Le Guen had to leave Rangers at the start of 2007.
“To put it simply, knowing that I don't hold all the keys to this breakup, I think that the 'mayonnaise' did not take between the Scots and Paul.
“He had been asked, among other things, to develop and improve the training methods and notions, food hygiene and team life. Surely there was an incompatibility between the Scots and the coach, one can even talk about culture shock.
“What's more, Paul had brought in many French players and coaching staff. Probably too many of us had arrived at the same time, creating tension in the team.
“Two groups were formed: the French-speaking and the Scots. For example, French players were going to see the French physio, and the Scottish players the Scottish physio. If you split a medical staff in two, it is the beginning of the problems.
“Paul brought us together one morning before the official announcement of his departure. With me, there was Brahim Hemdani, Dado Prso and Julian Rodriguez. We were the ones who played the most, and he trusted us. I remember that Dado and Brahim were very disappointed with the situation and his departure.
“Breaking conditions had been created between Paul and iconic Rangers captain Barry Ferguson. With Rangers having decided in favour of the latter, the departure of Paul had become inevitable.
“He undeniably influenced me in joining him in Scotland, so my stay became blurred overnight.
“What would happen to the French players after his departure? What changes would ensue? Who would be the new coach? What would be the new tactical choices? It was the unknown. And did this new project with many unknowns interest me? Clearly not.
“In my head, my presence in Glasgow was losing its interest, especially as new opportunities presented themselves to me.
“Paul Le Guen offered me the chance to join him at Paris Saint-Germain, his new club.
“After a visit from my close friends in Glasgow from which flowed long and constructive arguments, I decided to head to Paris.”
You can purchase a copy of Jeremy Clement's french language book HERE.
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