Four-time premiership coach Alastair Clarkson signs for North Melbourne

After weeks of speculation, four-time premiership coach Alastair Clarkson has signed a five-year deal with his former club.

Clarko said Essendon's offer came way too late.

Four-time premiership coach Alastair Clarkson will lead his former club North Melbourne from 2023 and beyond, turning his back on a potential deal with Essendon.

After weeks of speculation, Clarkson’s manager James Henderson confirmed on Friday morning the 54-year-old had signed with the Kangaroos on a five-year deal.

He will become the club’s fourth coach in five years.

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According to reports, the deal is worth approximately $1.1 million per season.

“This is a real watershed moment for our club, and I am writing to share it with members first – we’ll talk to media later today, but for now, this is a moment for all of us,” North Melbourne president Dr Sonja Hood said in a statement.

“I can’t speak highly enough of the professionalism of Alastair and his manager James Henderson over this past four weeks. We’ve had a crash course in getting to know each other and Alastair’s passion to drive our club back to where we belong is incredibly infectious.”

The four-time All-Australian coach represented North Melbourne in 93 games between 1987-1995, scoring 61 goals.

As a coach, he led Hawthorn to four premierships between 2008 and 2015, winning 228 of his 390 games as Hawks mentor.

“Can I say well done (club president) Sonja Hood? She was prepared to cop the backlash that was going to come if the attempt was a failed one,” North Melbourne legend David King told SEN Breakfast on Friday morning.

“This is a massive day for the North Melbourne Football Club. Welcome home Alastair.

“Let’s hope he can correct what has been a shambolic situation over the previous couple of years.

“This is so good. So good for the Kangas. Essendon will be all the talk, but this is a great day for North Melbourne.”

Alastair Clarkson, former coach of Hawthorn. Photo by Michael Klein

After Essendon president Paul Brasher stepped down from his position earlier this week, there was some speculation Clarkson would replace Bombers coach Ben Rutten.

But instead, Friday’s announcement has only muddied the waters at Essendon.

Speaking to reporters on Friday afternoon, Clarkson explained why decided against signing for the Bombers.

“There was sentiment with Essendon, and I‘ve got enormous respect for GWS, but this just felt right, I feel comfortable here,” he said.

“It was a difficult position to be in, and I was aware it was becoming a circus. I don’t like being the centre of attention.

“We were so far down the road with North and GWS, the Essendon process came far too late to give it serious consideration.

“It was really out of respect that I listened to what they had to say. Due diligence takes a lot longer than four days, for me.

“Change happens at every club, but as we‘ve seen with Collingwood and Carlton, it doesn’t take much to turn it around. Get the right people in, the right vision and everyone marching to the same tune, and you can pick things up pretty quickly.”

Pleased to hear Clarkson will go to @NMFCOfficial. They never catch a break. Messy stuff from @essendonfc. Got to feel for Ben Rutten & perhaps the board have set their club back even further.

— Scott Carbines (@scottcarbines) August 18, 2022

Disappointed but can't say I'm surprised by no Clarkson to Essendon. Can't say that I blame him. If you're Clarkson and you see a board spill and the mess that is Essendon administration, is that a place you'd want to work? Or would you rather just get to do your thing at North?

— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) August 18, 2022

Great, so Essendon manage to totally undermine the current coach to the point where his position is basically untenable, and still didn't manage to land Alastair Clarkson. Now we have the worst of both worlds. Classic Bombers.

— Jarni Blakkarly (@JarniBlakkarly) August 18, 2022

Rutten’s manager Adam Ramanauskas fumed at the relentless media speculation, claiming the situation had been handled poorly.

“I think it’s been really disappointing. You’ve got to look at the human side … the way he’s been treated is fundamentally not right,” he told RSN radio.

“It’s fair to say Monday and half of Tuesday were pretty difficult days because nobody was telling him what was going on. He was calling a lot of people and wasn’t getting much response back.”

North Melbourne has not qualified for a finals series in 2016, and the struggling club looks destined to clinch a second-consecutive wooden spoon this season.

Clarkson will officially take over the reins from November 1,