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A new era at Goodison Park can begin after Ronald Koeman was finally confirmed as Everton’s manager.
The Dutchman had enjoyed two excellent seasons with Southampton and would have had a European campaign on his agenda in the forthcoming campaign but he found it impossible to turn down the overtures of Everton’s major investor Farhad Moshiri.
Koeman has signed a three-year contract, worth £6million per season, and he will be given the biggest transfer kitty in Everton’s history to revamp a squad that failed to fulfil its potential under Roberto Martinez.
Martinez was sacked on May 12 after results had spiralled and Koeman quickly became the prime target for Moshiri, who acquired a 49.9 per cent controlling stake in Everton on February 27 and has been determined to make a statement.
Koeman, speaking to Everton’s website, said: ‘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.
‘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.’
Everton chairman Bill Kenwright added: ‘We are really pleased to have secured the man who was our No 1 target from the moment we set out to appoint a new manager.
‘Ronald has such a strong track record in the game, instantly commanding respect for what he achieved as a player and for his qualities and accomplishments as a manager.
‘The hopes and aspirations that we all have as Evertonians are with him, as is our total support at board, shareholder and fan level.’
The Dutchman had enjoyed two excellent seasons with Southampton but has now moved on to pastures new
Everton spoke to a number of other candidates – including former Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini, David Moyes, who spent 11 years in the Goodison hot seat between 2002 and 2013, and ex-Ajax manager Frank De Boer – but it soon became a two-horse race.
The main rival to Koeman was Unai Emery and Everton held significant discussions with advisors of the three-time Europa League winner at the end of May to see whether he would consider a switch to the Barclays Premier League.
Emery, however, had second thoughts about meeting Everton’s hierarchy in person and, aware that an alternative offer from Paris Saint-Germain was floating in the pipeline, he dropped out of the race.
When Emery got cold feet, that merely stiffened Everton’s resolve to get Koeman and he informed Southampton at the beginning of June that he wanted to talk to Moshiri.
That left Everton with the task of agreeing a £3.5million compensation package with Southampton. Koeman – who will be joined on Merseyside with his brother, Erwin – had 12 months remaining on his terms but that was not going to be a stumbling block for Moshiri.
Koeman has been away on holiday but it is expected he will be formally unveiled at Goodison in the coming days and he will be tasked with returning Everton to the top six, with long-term aim of transforming them into a Champions League club.
Southampton confirmed Koeman’s departure and released the following statement: ‘The search has already begun for the right appointment who can take the club to the next level and build on our track record of recent success, which culminated in a sixth-place finish in last season’s Premier League, as well as qualification for the group stages of the Europa League.
‘Our focus now is to build on our long-term plan, and work with a new management team who share both the club’s and our supporters’ values and ambitions.’
