adminLONDON. — Ronald Koeman has signed a three-year deal to be Southampton’s new manager and faces an immediate battle to hold on to the club’s top players. Koeman (51) led Feyenoord to second in the Dutch league last season and is renowned for both his attacking brand of football and his work in developing youngsters. Both qualities were high on Southampton’s wishlist for a new manager after they lost Mauricio Pochettino to Tottenham last month.
Adam Lallana, Luke Shaw and Dejan Lovren have all been heavily linked with moves away from St Mary’s and Koeman will be desperate to keep them at the club. He said: “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 English Premier League.”
Koeman is set to raid former club Feyenoord for midfielder Lex Immers as he sets out to improve on Southampton’s top eight finish last season. He held talks with the board last Friday and on Monday agreed a deal to take over that also sees his elder brother, Erwin, join him as assistant first-team manager, with Jan Kluitenberg as assistant first-team coach/physical coach. —Daily Express.
Online Reporter