It’s official. After weeks of speculation, Ronald Koeman has resigned as Southampton’s manager and has taken over at Everton.
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Koeman, 53, has signed a three-year deal at Everton, reportedly worth $10 million per season, and joins the Merseyside club after Roberto Martinez was fired in May.
Speaking to Everton’s website, Koeman revealed he delight in signing at Goodison Park until 2019.“I am very excited to be Everton manager. I believe in the Club, in the team, in the fans and in our ability to achieve things in the future,” Koeman said. “Everton is a club with a great history and real ambition and it is a proud feeling for me to be part of what we want to go and do, together with the Chairman and Farhad Moshiri.
“I am looking forward to meeting everyone at the Club and to preparing for a big season in the Premier League.
After leading Southampton to their best-ever Premier League finishes of seventh and sixth in his first two campaigns managing in England, Koeman has decided to leave Saints with one year left on his contract.
It is believed Everton’s new billionaire owner Farhad Moshiri has promised Koeman $150 million to spend in the transfer market and the Dutch manager is also eager to keep the likes of Ross Barkley, John Stones and Romelu Lukaku at Goodison Park.
Everton finished in 11th place last season and reached both the FA Cup and Capital One Cup semifinals under Martinez. However, their defensive issues curtailed the impact of their attacking talents and Koeman’s big aim this summer will be to strengthen the Toffees defensively.
As for Southampton, they will feel let down that the man they gave a chance to in the PL has jumped at the chance to join a rival club and after leading Saints to Europa League qualification in the past two years has decided the ambition of the south coast club didn’t match his own. In a brief statement on Saints’ website, they confirmed Koeman’s resignation and a compensation package being agree with Everton -- believed to be around $7.5 million -- but did not thank him or his staff for their work at St Mary’s.
Everton’s supporters will be rejoicing that Koeman has decided to take on a huge rebuild at Goodison as his aim will be to turn them into top four contenders in the PL.