Template function does not compile: expected primary-expression before ‘>’

Question

I wanted to wrap following line as function which takes parameter as a template type (to replace ConnectionManager for any other type):

std::shared_ptr<ConnectionManager> client = ConnectionManager::createClient<ConnectionManager>(broker, service_url);

So I created function that takes template parameter:

template<typename ClientType>
std::shared_ptr<ClientType> createClient(const std::shared_ptr<thrift::TServiceBroker>& broker, std::string url) {
        std::shared_ptr<ClientType> client = ClientType::createClient<ClientType>(broker, url);
        return client;
}

when I try to compile I get following error:

error: expected primary-expression before ‘>’ token
 std::shared_ptr<ClientType> client = ClientType::createClient<ClientType>(broker, url);

Kdevelop suggested following change:

template<typename ClientType>
std::shared_ptr<ClientType> createClient(const std::shared_ptr<thrift::TServiceBroker>& broker, std::string url) {
    std::shared_ptr<ClientType> client = ClientType::template createClient<ClientType>(broker, url);
    return client;
}

After this change code compiles and works.

createClient is defined in ConnectionManager parent as follows

template<class IMPCLASS>
static inline ::thrift::shared_ptr<IMPCLASS> createClient(const ::thrift::shared_ptr< ::thrift::TServiceBroker >& broker, const std::string& address)

I have two questions:

1. I don't understand why I got compilation error
2. I don't even know syntax that fixed the error

Please explain.