So, Koeman has made the move to become the new Everton manager. The news has seemingly been received positively by the Toffees faithful after a somewhat nightmarish 2015/16 season with Martinez at the helm.
With a compensation packet of roughly the £3.5 million mark, along with the compensation fees to be agreed for the backroom staff such as Koeman’s brother, Erwin, and fitness coach Jan Kluitenberg who is also expected also to join him at Everton, the total bill is likely to be around £5 million.
A hefty fee for a managerial appointment, but that doesn’t matter if they get their man. Right? What is a couple of million pounds?
Proven as a player and manager
Koeman has proven his worth as a manager who can work and make magic with youth players and under limited resources.
As a player, Koeman was equally prolific, as he has both made more than 763 appearances as a player and scored more than 253 goals, with a European Championship medal in his cabinet from the campaign with Netherlands in 1988.
He also won the European Cup with PSV and Barcelona in 1988 and 1992 respectively. along with an additional four domestic league titles in the Netherlands and Spain.
As manager, Koeman has managed the likes of Vitesse, Ajax, Benfica, PSV, Valencia, AZ Alkmaar, Feyenoord and Southampton winning the Dutch league twice and leading a youthful Ajax side to a Quarter-Final place in the Champions League losing out in dramatic fashion to eventual champions AC Milan.
Commendable win-rate
The outstanding statistic for Koeman at Southampton is the 47% win rate at Southampton. Although it is 3 percent lower than Arsene Wenger’s 20-year reign win-rate at Arsenal, that stat is seriously commendable especially with a team such as Southampton.
Because of this very respectable success rate and respected finishes with the club, grim reactions resonated throughout the Southampton camp with club legend Matt Le Tissier surmising: “He (Koeman) may feel he has got a better chance of winning trophies at Everton. I’d be of a slightly different opinion.”
As expected, a larger transfer kitty is said to be reportedly available to him at Everton. The real challenge he will face will be the removal of deadwood, promoting young talent, seeking out potential marquee signings, and the full utilization of players such as Barkley and Stones who have seriously underperformed under Martinez.
Possible replacements
Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe and Sevilla’s Unai Emery are among the contenders to replace Koeman at Southampton, although nothing formal has been made by the club.
Executives have been reported to have already drawn a short-list of candidates but no appointment is expected imminently.
With the transfer market still active and the lack of stability at Southampton, a managerial appointment is direly needed.
Likely success
Overall, the assumption which can be made is that Koeman will be an instant success moving from a small pond into a bigger one.
We wish the Dutchman the best in his latest endeavor.
Written by Jon Herridge
Follow Jon on Twitter @jon_herridge
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