Everton name Ronald Koeman as new manager on three-year deal
Dutchman decided to quit Southampton and try to return Mersey club to top six contenders in Premier League
RONALD KEOMAN has been confirmed as the new manager of Everton.
Koeman has agreed a three-year deal to take charge at Goodison Park after deciding to quit as Southampton manager.
Ronald Koeman has been chosen as Everton's replacement for the sacked Robert Martinez
The Toffees had been searching for a new manager after sacking Roberto Martinez just before the end of last season.
Koeman had grown disillusioned at Southampton at the way the club continued to sell their best players.
Despite leading Saints to a sixth place finish in the Premier League last season, he opted to turn his back on the club for the chance to re-build Everton into a major force in English football.
New majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri has made it clear he will provide the financial backing for a summer of major invtestment at Goodison Park and Koeman decided the opportunity was better than working on a budget on the south coast.
He has already been highlighting targets and is expected to make a bid for Italy striker Graziano Pelle who is also expected to leave Southampton this summer.
Pelle scored the second goal in Italy's 2-0 win over Belgium in Euro 2016, but with just a year left on his current deal at St Mary's he could be available for as little as £6million.
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Chairman Bill Kenwright said: “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.
Ronald Koeman - Managerial career in numbers
1998 - Year Koeman took his first coaching job as a member of Holland boss Guus Hiddink's backroom staff for the World Cup in France.
4 - Eredivisie League finish with Vitesse Arnhem in his first managerial role, securing qualification for the UEFA Cup in 2000.
50.6 - Percentage win rate in 79 matches in charge of Vitesse.
173 - The positive goal difference his Ajax side racked up in the 151 games he led them for, with a win rate of 62.5 per cent.
11- Size of the points lead his PSV Eindhoven side squandered in the 2006-7 season before they snatched the Eredivisie title on the final day.
12 - Number of victories Koeman managed as Valencia manager in a short-lived 35-game stay.
7 - Months in charge of AZ before being sacked after losing seven of the first 16 matches of the league champions' title defence.
44 - Wins in 91 games in charge at Southampton.
8 - Trophies won as manager with Ajax, Benfica, PSV, Valencia and AZ.
“The hopes and aspirations that we all have as Evertonians are with him, as is our total support at Board, shareholder and fan level.”
Manager Koeman 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.”