Everton Relieves Koeman of His Duties

David Unsworth has taken temporary charge of Everton and wants to manage the club long term after Ronald Koeman was dismissed 16 months into a three‑year, £6m-per-annum contract.


Koeman, 54, was sacked on Monday after a dismal run of form that has left Everton third from bottom of the Premier League and with two wins in 13 games. The decision was taken by Farhad Moshiri, the major shareholder, and it fell to the chairman, Bill Kenwright, and the chief executive, Robert Elstone, to tell Koeman after he had taken training at Finch Farm. The Dutchman told friends on Sunday evening, hours after a 5-2 defeat by Arsenal, that he retained Moshiri’s support.

The Everton hierarchy are considering several candidates to replace the manager lured on a lucrative deal from Southampton in June 2016. The Burnley manager, Sean Dyche, Watford’s Marco Silva, the former Borussia Dortmund coach Thomas Tuchel and Carlo Ancelotti have been linked with the vacancy, although there had been no formal approach from Everton to their counterparts at Turf Moor by Monday evening.

Koeman will receive a handsome pay‑off from Everton, who had to pay £11m to Martínez and his backroom team after their departure. Koeman’s assistant at Goodison, his brother Erwin, the fitness coach Jan Kluitenberg and the goalkeeping coach Patrick Lodewijks are also expected to leave. The first-team coach Duncan Ferguson may be retained.