Ronald Koeman sacked by Everton, becomes third casualty of season

Koeman became the third Premier League managerial casualty of the season on Monday when he was sacked by Everton.

The 54-year-old Dutchman, who guided Everton to seventh in his first season in charge last term, paid the price for a desperate start to the campaign despite having spent £140million ($185mn) in the close season.

Sunday’s 5-2 humbling at home to Arsenal which saw them drop into the bottom three sealed his fate and despite taking training on Monday he received a visit from club chairman Bill Kenwright. “Everton Football Club can confirm that Ronald Koeman has left the club,” read the Everton statement.

Koeman, who arrived at Goodison Park after a successful spell in charge of Southampton, splashed the money on the likes of Icelandic international Gylfi Sigurdsson in the summer.

Sigurdsson is yet to display the sort of form that got Koeman to convince the board to pay out a club record £45million to prise him away form Swansea.

The early favourite to replace Koeman is former Everton manager David Moyes who has tasted little success since he departed the Merseyside club in 2013.

Koeman joins compatriot Frank de Boer --- sacked by Crystal Palace after just four Premier League games --- and Craig Shakespeare dismissed by Leicester last week.

LONDON:Ronald