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Koeman succeeds Pochettino at Southampton

"A world-class academy and the infrastructure to sustain success" were the key factors that persuaded Ronald Koeman to take over at Southampton FC.

Ronald Koeman has inked a three-year deal to become Southampton manager
Ronald Koeman has inked a three-year deal to become Southampton manager ©Getty Images

Ronald Koeman has been appointed manager of Southampton FC, the former Dutch international penning a three-year deal to succeed Mauricio Pochettino.

The 51-year-old, who has been out of work since departing Feyenoord in February, takes over a side that finished the 2013/14 Premier League campaign in ninth. Pochettino took the reins at Tottenham Hotspur FC last month.

"I am thrilled to be the manager of Southampton," said Koeman. "From my very first meeting with [executive director] Les Reed, I could see clearly that this was the right club for me. We share the same philosophy and the same belief in how to develop the club," he said.

"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 earned 78 Netherlands caps and was a member of his country's EURO '88-winning side. He captured the European Cup with PSV Eindhoven and FC Barcelona, where he was a Liga champion four times. He also won four titles in his homeland, at PSV (three) and AFC Ajax (one).

Since hanging up his boots in 1997, he has led PSV and Ajax to Eredivisie glory, and had spells at Vitesse, SL Benfica, Valencia CF and AZ Alkmaar before arriving at Feyenoord in July 2011.

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