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Name: Neil Clement
Nationality: English
Date of Birth: 03/10/1978
Height:6' 0" (183cm)
Weight:12st 3lbs (77.63kg)
Previous  
Clubs:Brentford (loan), WBA, Hull City (loan), Preston (loan), Reading (loan), Chelsea
Position: Defender

'CLEM' is currently Albion's longest-serving player and penned a five-and-a-half year deal in January 2005.

He became the first-ever Baggies player to win three promotions with the club when he ended an otherwise frustrating 2007/08 season by guiding Albion over the final hurdle to the Championship crown.

After starting the opening game of the campaign at Burnley, Clement's persistent knee troubles in his left leg continued to a point where he considered retiring from the game.

But he battled back and, following a successful month-long loan spell at Hull City, he was recalled to The Hawthorns by Tony Mowbray and brought stability to the Baggies backline in a seven-match unbeaten league run.

He also deservedly  won a place in the club's starting XI for their narrow 1-0 FA Cup semi-final defeat by Portsmouth at Wembley.

But his injury problems returned to haunt him last term as he broke down in pre-season training with a problem in his right knee and missed the whole of the campaign.

Clement's involvement in the 2006/07 campaign was also delayed until December by his recovery from a long-term knee injury suffered at the end of the previous campaign, which required surgery.

But he soon won his place back at the heart of the Baggies defence, once-again forming a solid partnership with Curtis Davies which went a long way to cementing Albion's place in the play-offs.

After struggling to break into Chelsea's first team, Clement joined Albion in a £100,000 move in the summer of 2000.

He earned his permanent Hawthorns deal by helping the club avoid relegation to League One during a successful loan spell at the end of the 1999/2000 campaign.

Clement started his Albion career as a left-sided centre-half in a back three and proved an instant hit, winning the club's Player-of-the-Year Award in his first full season in 2000/01.

He moved to left wing-back during 2001/02 and helped Albion end their 16-year top-flight exile by winning promotion to the Premiership for the first time.

Clement's strong tackling, adventurous nature and eye for goal from set-plays also earned him a place in the Division One PFA XI that season.

After figuring regularly during Albion's failed attempt to preserve their Premiership status the following term, he suffered the first real setback of his Baggies career in 2003/04 when he lost his position as first-choice left-back to new recruit Paul Robinson.

However, he underlined his versatility that season by serving in midfield, at centre-half and even at centre-forward on occasion as Albion immediately won promotion back to the top flight.

Clement played a key role in Albion's Great Escape during 2004/05. He got his chance at centre-half midway through the term and forged a solid partnership with Thomas Gaardsoe as Albion became the first team bottom of the Premiership at Christmas to avoid the drop.

As vice-captain during 2005/06, he skippered Albion on several occasions in the absence of Kevin Campbell, partnering new boy Davies at the heart of the Baggies defence for a large chunk of the term.

Steve Waldron

(UPDATED ON JUNE 25, 2009)

Season 2008 - 09

Career History:
Club Season Comp. Apps
(as sub)
Goals
Hull City 2007 - 08League 4  (1) 0
WBA 2007 - 08League 8  (1) 0
  FA Cup 1  (0) 0
  League Cup 1  (0) 0
WBA 2006 - 07League 14  (7) 1
  FA Cup 4  (0) 0
WBA 2005 - 06League 29  (2) 1
  League Cup 3  (0) 0
WBA 2004 - 05League 35  (0) 3
  FA Cup 3  (0) 0
WBA 2003 - 04League 25  (10) 2
  FA Cup 1  (0) 0
  League Cup 4  (1) 1
WBA 2002 - 03League 34  (2) 3
  FA Cup 2  (0) 0
  League Cup 0  (1) 0
WBA 2001 - 02League 45  (0) 6
  FA Cup 4  (0) 2
  League Cup 3  (0) 0
WBA 2000 - 01League 47  (0) 5
  FA Cup 1  (0) 0
  League Cup 4  (0) 2
WBA 1999 - 00League 7  (1) 0
Brentford 1999 - 00League 7  (1) 0
Chelsea 1999 - 00FA Cup 0  (1) 0
Preston 1998 - 99League 4  (0) 0
Reading 1998 - 99League 11  (0) 1
Chelsea 1998 - 99League Cup 0  (2) 0
Chelsea 1996 - 97League 1  (0) 0
 
Neil Clement
 Player Profiles
1 Dean Kiely Goalkeeper  
2 Joe Mattock Defender  
3 Jonas Olsson Defender  
4 Marek Cech Defender  
5 Leon Barnett
(on loan to CCFC )
Defender  
7 Robert Koren Midfielder  
8 Jonathan Greening
(on loan to Fulham )
Midfielder  
9 Roman Bednar Striker  
10 Ishmael Miller Striker  
11 Chris Brunt Midfielder  
12 Giles Barnes Midfielder  
13 Luke Daniels
(on loan to Trnmere )
Goalkeeper  
14 Jerome Thomas Midfielder  
15 Chris Wood Striker  
16 Luke Moore Striker  
17 Graham Dorrans Midfielder  
18 Reuben Reid
(on loan to Peterbr )
Striker  
19 Scott Carson Goalkeeper  
20 Filipe Teixeira
(on loan to Barnsly )
Midfielder  
21 Youssouf Mulumbu Midfielder  
22 Gianni Zuiverloon Defender  
23 Abdoulaye Meite Defender  
24 Ben Watson
(on loan from Wigan )
Midfielder  
25 Joss Labadie Midfielder  
26 Gabriel Tamas
(on loan from Auxerre )
Defender  
27 James Morrison Midfielder  
28 Borja Valero
(on loan to Mllrca )
Midfielder  
29 Andwele Slory Midfielder  
30 Paul Downing
(on loan to Herefrd )
Defender  
31 Simon Cox Striker  
32 Lateef Elford-Alliyu Striker  
33 Dwayne Samuels Defender  
35 Romaine Sawyers Midfielder  
36 Gonzalo Jara Defender  
37 George Thorne Midfielder  
39 Ryan Allsop Goalkeeper  
40 Marcus Haber
(on loan to Exeter )
Striker  
41 Sam Mantom Midfielder  
43 Kayleden Brown Midfielder  
44 Steven Reid
(on loan from Blackbn )
Midfielder  
 Latest Articles
Read 09.03.2010 See who is cream of the crop for Baggies left-back
Read 02.03.2010 Read the thoughts of Albion's young pro
Read 16.02.2010 Find out the views of our Scotland international
Read 09.02.2010 This week we catch the Albion captain's thoughts
Read 02.02.2010 This week we chat to the Baggies' midfield ace
Read 26.01.2010 We chat to the Baggies' rising midfield star
Read 19.01.2010 This week we get the new signing's thoughts
Read 12.01.2010 This week we get the thoughts of the Albion physio
Read 05.01.2010 Albion's goalkeeper player/coach gives his views
Read 29.12.2009 This week we chat with the former Baggies ace

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