Paul Clement has said that he is delighted to have been appointed Derby County head coach.
The 43-year-old has taken up his first managerial role with the Championship side, having previously worked as a number two to Carlo Ancelotti at Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid.
Clement admitted that he has been looking at making the step up to head coach for a while.
"It is something that I have thought about for quite some time now," he told Derby's official website.
"I have had a wonderful experience in the last six years working as an assistant to Carlo Ancelotti at three great clubs in Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid. However, I really felt that it was my time now to go it alone and be a number one in my own right.
"I have been in a supportive role for a number of years now, one I have enjoyed, but I feel I have the right amount of skills and experience to make those decisions – picking the team and deciding on the tactics with the responsibility on me – as a number one."
Clement has also coached at Fulham and Blackburn Rovers during his career.
Steven Toplis
