Swansea City confirms that former French international Claude Makelele has joined the club’s coaching staff.
The 43-year-old, who has signed a deal until the end of the season, reunites with head coach Paul Clement, who he worked with during his playing stint at Chelsea and as a coach with Paris Saint-Germain. The former Real Madrid, Chelsea and PSG midfielder has been named as an assistant coach, and will work alongside Clement’s fellow new recruits Nigel Gibbs and Karl Halabi, as well as goalkeeping coach Tony Roberts.
Makelele will get his first taste of the Liberty on Saturday when he’s in the dug-out for the Swans’ Premier League fixture with Arsenal.
Hugely respected as a player, Makelele’s effectiveness as a defensive midfielder saw his position named by pundits as the “Makelele role.”
Born in Zaire but raised in France, he began his senior career with Nantes where he helped them win the Ligue 1 title and reach the Champions League semi-final. His performances soon caught the attention of Marseille, where he spent one year before switching to La Liga club Celta Vigo.
A successful stint at Celta saw him feature in over 80 games as they reached the Uefa Cup quarter-finals twice, before his big move to Real Madrid. He lifted seven pieces of silverware in his four years at the Bernabeu, including the Champions League and two La Liga titles.
Rated as one of the best holding midfielders in the world at that time, Makelele’s next destination was the Premier League with Chelsea where Clement had a coaching role. Another hugely successful period followed as he helped the Blues win two Premier League titles along with League Cup medals and the FA Cup. He was also named in the FIFPro World XI in 2005.
In July 2008, his departure from Stamford Bridge allowed him to return to France with Paris Saint-Germain, for whom he played over 100 games and tasted success in the French Cup before retiring in 2011. He made over 800 appearances during his domestic career, scoring 25 goals and winning 15 trophies. At international level, Makelele won 71 caps for France and helped them to the World Cup final in 2006, where they were beaten by Italy.
After hanging up his boots, Makelele was appointed coach at Paris Saint-Germain, where he would link up again with Clement. His first foray into management followed, with Makelele spending just under six months in charge of Bastia before taking up a technical director role with Monaco.
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