Ronald Koeman
Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman has opened up about the moment he was sacked by Everton, and the surprising emotion behind it.
In a new conversation with agent Rob Jansen, the Netherlands boss reflected on his short but eventful spell at Goodison Park, revealing that is left chairman Bill Kenwright in tears when he delivered the news.
“He called me King Koeman”
Ronald Koeman arrived at Everton in 2016 following an impressive spell at Southampton, with Everton planning big under Farhad Moshiri.
His first season was a successful one as he guided Everton to a seventh placed finish, securing qualification for the Europa League.
That first year was a happy one, including a budding relationship with chairman Bill Kenwright.
“He was a sweet man,” says Koeman when Jansen starts talking about Kenwright.
“He lived in London, and once a month I would go there by train to have lunch with Bill Kenwright and talk about Everton. Those were really fun conversations. He also always called me ‘King Koeman’. But in the second season, it wasn’t much ‘King’ anymore.”
Second season disaster
Things quickly unravelled in the Dutchman’s second season despite a record-breaking summer spend of £140m.
That second campaign was marked by an inability to integrate new expensive signings, as well as replace star striker Romelu Lukaku.
Ronald Koeman was eventually sacked following a 5-2 defeat to Arsenal and a run of no wins in five games at that point. The responsibility fell to Bill Kenwright, who was left in tears.
“He walked into my office when he had to deliver the bad news. He had tears in his eyes because he had to fire me on behalf of Farhad,” he added.
Koeman, though, holds no grudges against Kenwright. “A great man.” Jansen completely agrees with that.
“Sacking you was the stupidest thing they did. After that, it has only gone downhill,” he concluded.
Everton’s sliding doors moment
Ronald Koeman’s sacking is certainly a turning point in Everton history. While his agent thinks the decision was a stupid one, that’s revisionism at its finest.
Everton were sinking under the Dutchman and looked destined for relegation that year but did eventually finish 8th under Sam Allardyce. That certainly suggests Koeman was the problem at the time.
Rob Jansen clearly thinks Koeman could have turned things around, and it seems Bill Kenwright had a similar feeling. Everton fans are likely to disagree.
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