SOUTHAMPTON HAVE APPOINTED Ronald Koeman as their new manager on a three-year deal.
Talks had been on-going for a while with the Premier League side having been interested in the 51 year-old ever since Mauricio Pochettino became Tottenham manager last month.
Koeman’s work with developing and blooding younger players while at Feyenoord is believed to have been a critical ingredient in why the Southampton top-brass wanted to bring him to St. Mary’s.
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Petr David Josek / AP/Press Association Images
Petr David Josek / AP/Press Association Images / AP/Press Association Images
Koeman also had to work with a stringent budget at the Rotterdam-based club after it spiralled into financial difficulties. Nevertheless, the Dutchman was able to consistently deliver with the side achieving consecutive top-three finishes in the three seasons Koeman was there.
There has been plenty of talk about philosophy with Southampton keen on keeping the well-regarded style that Pochettino cultivated. Pointedly, Koeman referenced the term in his statement:
I am thrilled to be the manager of Southampton Football Club. From my very first meeting with Les Reed, I could see clearly that this was the right club for me. We share the same philosophy of football, and the same belief in how to develop the club. Southampton have a talented first-team squad, a world-class academy and the infrastructure to sustain success in the Premier League. The opportunity to continue the development of this famous football club was simply too good to turn down. I cannot wait to get started.”
He does arrive at a club in transition. Pochettino had over-achieved and allowed younger players flourish but the team’s subsequent success has ensured plenty of potential suitors for their most prized assets. One of the first items on Koeman’s agenda will be to try and persuade left-back Luke Shaw and attacker Adam Lallana to stay and not be attracted to the brighter lights of Manchester United and Liverpool respectively.
Koeman will hope to continue the good work of his predecessor Mauricio Pochettino. Chris Ison / PA Wire/Press Association Images
Chris Ison / PA Wire/Press Association Images / PA Wire/Press Association Images
Koeman’s older brother Erwin will serve as his assistant while Jan Kluitenberg joins as assist first team coach/physical coach.
Les Reed, Southampton’s Executive Director had the following to say about the appointment:
As part of our ongoing scouting process, we have been following the development of Ronald’s coaching career for some time and, through a more formal process this month, immediately identified him as our number-one choice. From the moment we met with Ronald, it was clear he had the vision and ambition to take our club forward, that he shared our football philosophy and could see the opportunity to move our club to the next level.”
Koeman’s playing career brought him much success winning four league titles in his native Holland with Ajax and PSV before moving to Barcelona. In Spain, he won another four championships and the European Cup in 1992 where he scored the decisive goal against Sampdoria. With Holland he won the 1988 European Championship.
He’s already tasted victory on numerous occasions as a manager, winning two Eredivise titles with Ajax, one with PSV and a Copa del Rey with Valencia.
Ronald Koeman is confirmed as the new Southampton manager
SOUTHAMPTON HAVE APPOINTED Ronald Koeman as their new manager on a three-year deal.
Talks had been on-going for a while with the Premier League side having been interested in the 51 year-old ever since Mauricio Pochettino became Tottenham manager last month.
Koeman’s work with developing and blooding younger players while at Feyenoord is believed to have been a critical ingredient in why the Southampton top-brass wanted to bring him to St. Mary’s.
Koeman also had to work with a stringent budget at the Rotterdam-based club after it spiralled into financial difficulties. Nevertheless, the Dutchman was able to consistently deliver with the side achieving consecutive top-three finishes in the three seasons Koeman was there.
There has been plenty of talk about philosophy with Southampton keen on keeping the well-regarded style that Pochettino cultivated. Pointedly, Koeman referenced the term in his statement:
He does arrive at a club in transition. Pochettino had over-achieved and allowed younger players flourish but the team’s subsequent success has ensured plenty of potential suitors for their most prized assets. One of the first items on Koeman’s agenda will be to try and persuade left-back Luke Shaw and attacker Adam Lallana to stay and not be attracted to the brighter lights of Manchester United and Liverpool respectively.
Koeman’s older brother Erwin will serve as his assistant while Jan Kluitenberg joins as assist first team coach/physical coach.
Les Reed, Southampton’s Executive Director had the following to say about the appointment:
Koeman’s playing career brought him much success winning four league titles in his native Holland with Ajax and PSV before moving to Barcelona. In Spain, he won another four championships and the European Cup in 1992 where he scored the decisive goal against Sampdoria. With Holland he won the 1988 European Championship.
He’s already tasted victory on numerous occasions as a manager, winning two Eredivise titles with Ajax, one with PSV and a Copa del Rey with Valencia.
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Eredivisie feyenoord les reed Mauricio Pochettino Premier League Ronald Koeman saint ronald Southampton St Mary's