Swansea welcomes Claude Makelele to coaching staff

Paul Clement has revived his working relationship with ex-Chelsea man Claude Makelele at Swansea City by handing him a job with his backroom team.

Clement worked behind the scenes at Stamford Bridge while Makelele was a combative-yet-calming presence in Chelsea's midfield. The pair were also part of Carlo Ancelotti's coaching staff at Paris Saint-Germain.

Now, Swansea's new manager has called in Makelele's services in south Wales, as the club seeks to stave off the threat of relegation, currently placed 19th in the Premier League.

The Frenchman, whose position at Chelsea was coined the "Makelele role" and prompted many copycat tactics across Europe, links up with the rest of Clement's newly appointed team in Nigel Gibbs, Karl Halabi, and goalkeeping coach Tony Roberts.

If anything, the midfield is where Swansea is most blessed with talent, with the club stuck in the relegation mire due to possessing the worst defence in the top flight. Through these struggles, the Swans are on their third boss of the campaign after Francesco Guidolin and Bob Bradley were shown the exit door.