Koeman left Southampton after disappointing offer
LONDON: Everton manager Ronald Koeman (pic) has revealed his surprising exit from Premier League rivals Southampton last summer came after a ‘really disappointing’ contract offer by the Saints.
Koeman had enjoyed two highly successful years on the south coast, last year guiding them to their highest ever Premier League finish of sixth, earning Europa League football.
But he departed for Merseyside before the start of this season, joining Everton — a side which had finished five places lower in 11th after an extremely underwhelming campaign.
Koeman told the Premier League Show on BBC Two: “The main reason was that we did not agree about my last year of contract.
“I mentioned to the club I would like to continue, and go into my last year then during the season we would have time to discuss about the future.
“There was no way for the club to do that, they came with the new offer and I was really disappointed about the offer to continue in Southampton.
“With Everton, you start to listen to the project, and I say ok, it’s a good time to move now, because it may be impossible to keep that level with Southampton.”
With Everton’s new owner Farhad Moshiri providing the money for players, a new stadium and the ability to challenge at the top of the Premier League, Koeman says he is eyeing Champions League football in the coming seasons for the club.
He said: “This season, Everton will fight for European football, but to beat the big ones in the Premier League will be, I don’t say impossible, but very difficult.
“Next season we need to improve, we will get new signings and that makes the team stronger, then in the final three years, for Everton we need to be close to getting Champions League football.
“I think at the moment we are at maybe 60 per cent of the whole project.”
Koeman cited his former Barcelona boss and fellow Dutchman Johan Cruyff as his major inspiration in the interview, and that he has a similarly intense outlook on the game.
He said: “I love football, it is the best thing in life. The worst still is if you lose the game, that effects me badly.
Koeman would have been especially angry after their final game before the current international break — a 5-0 Premier League thrashing at Chelsea.
The result was out of character for Everton, who had only conceded eight in the league until Stamford Bridge, under the management of former centre-back Koeman.
But he says he is not too concerned, and that he was expecting a setback eventually after an impressive start.
He said: “At the moment we are the best of the rest, that is what we like to be now, not next season, not for the third season in the project
“Of course I am disappointed about the 5-0 but we need to accept it and continue.” Daily Mail