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 JohnsonThe Netherlands boss reflected on his short but eventful tenure at Goodison Park, revealing he had tears in his eyes when chairman Bill Kenwright broke the news.
"They called me King Koeman"
Ronald Koeman arrived at Everton in 2016 after impressive performances at Southampton, with Everton making big plans under Farhad Moshiri.
His first season was successful as he led Everton to seventh place, securing qualification for the Europa League.
That first year was a happy one, including a budding relationship with chairman Bill Kenwright.
"He was a lovely man," Koeman says when Jensen starts talking about Kenwright.
"He lived in London, and once a month I'd go there by train to have lunch with Bill Kenwright and talk about Everton. They were really fun conversations. He always called me 'King Koeman' too. But in the second season, it wasn't so much 'King' anymore."
disaster of the second season
Despite a record-breaking summer spending of £140 million, things quickly unraveled in the Dutchman's second season.
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 after a 5–2 defeat to Arsenal and a five-match winless run at that point. The responsibility fell on Bill Kenwright, who began to cry.
"He came into my office when he had to deliver the bad news. He had tears in his eyes because he had to fire me on Farhad's behalf." He added.
However, Koeman holds no grudges against Kenwright. "a great person." Jensen completely agrees with this.
"Firing you was the stupidest thing they ever did. After that, it just went downhill," He concluded.
Everton's sliding doors moment
The dismissal of Ronald Koeman is certainly a turning point in Everton's history. While his agent believes the decision was foolish, this is revisionism at its finest.
Everton were sinking under the Dutchman and looked destined for relegation that year, but ultimately finished 8thth Under Sam Allardyce. This certainly suggests that Koeman was the problem at that point.
Rob Jensen 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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