Paul Clement is appointed new Derby County head coach

Derby County have appointed Paul Clement as their new head coach on a three-year contract.

Clement, 43, has agreed a deal at Pride Park after leaving his role as assistant manager to Carlo Ancelotti at Spanish giants Real Madrid.

He replaces Steve McClaren as Derby’s head coach, who was sacked last month after the Rams missed out on a place in the Sky Bet Championship's play-off places.

"I'm incredibly excited to be joining Derby County as head coach and I am looking forward to meeting the players and getting started," Clement said.

"This is a massive club with fantastic facilities and a superb fan base who deserve success.

"Having spoken with (Derby chief executive) Sam Rush and the owners, I firmly believe we share the same desires and ambitions and that is to once again make Derby County a Premier League club."

Rush commented: "Paul Clement is one of the most in-demand coaches in world football and I am delighted that he has agreed to join Derby County.

"He is hugely respected, has exceptional relationships throughout football and tremendous coaching experience at some of the very best clubs in Europe.

"He is the perfect appointment at the next stage of Derby County’s development and we are looking forward to the coming season with a great deal of optimism."

He (Clement) is hugely respected, has exceptional relationships throughout football and tremendous coaching experience at some of the very best clubs in Europe.

Clement worked with Ancelotti at Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain before the duo moved to the Spanish capital in 2013, has also served as the academy coach at Stamford Bridge and was briefly as Blackburn's assistant head coach four years ago.

His departure from Real Madrid was confirmed shortly after Ancelotti was sacked following the club's failure to win a trophy this season.