Football
Kevin Palmer 10y

Southampton appoint Koeman

Ronald Koeman has been appointed as the new manager of Southampton, and has immediately expressed a desire to secure sustained success in the Premier League.

ESPN FC sources revealed earlier this month that Southampton were keen to recruit the former Ajax, Benfica, PSV Eindhoven, Valencia and Feyenoord coach and the ex-Netherlands international confirmed the move on his official Twitter account.

"I am thrilled to be the manager of Southampton Football Club. "From my very first meeting with Les Reed, I could see clearly that this was the right club for me. We share the same philosophy of football, and the same belief in how to develop the club," Koeman told Southampton's official website.

"Southampton have a talented first-team squad, a world-class academy and the infrastructure to sustain success in the Premier League.

"The opportunity to continue the development of this famous football club was simply too good to turn down. I cannot wait to get started."

Koeman arrives at Southampton with a coaching track record that includes two Eredivisie titles at Ajax, one at PSV and the Copa del Rey at Valencia. He left Feyenoord in May after finishing second in the league.

As a player he won four La Liga titles and the European Cup with Barcelona as well as the European Championship with the Netherlands in 1988.

One of Koeman's first tasks at Southampton will be resolving the futures of a host of established players who have been linked with moves away from the club.

Southampton captain Adam Lallana and defender Dejan Lovren are the subject of reported interest from Liverpool, while Luke Shaw has been linked with a move to Manchester United.

Southampton chiefs had earlier confirmed that no player departures will be sanctioned until the new manager was in place, with Koeman now set to work with his brother Erwin in a new-looking coaching staff at St Mary's Stadium.

ESPN FC sources have been informed that Koeman will be handed a healthy transfer budget to work with at Southampton, with any money from player sales made available to recruit fresh talent.

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