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Koeman resigns from PSV, joins Valencia
Ronald Koeman has resigned as manager of PSV Eindhoven to take over at Valencia.
- Associated Press
- Updated: November 02, 2007 07:27 AM IST
Read Time:3 min
Valencia:
"Chances come by in life and I always take them, that's just the way I am," Koeman said. "It's also a fact that in the soccer world, this is the way it goes."
PSV said Koeman signed a three-year contract with Valencia to replace Quique Sanchez Flores, who was fired on Monday, a day after a 3-0 loss at Sevilla, the club's fourth defeat in five games.
"He's always been the first option," Valencia president Juan Soler said. "He has everything we want. He's a great trainer and he knows the situation of Valencia."
Soler said the deal would be finalized by Friday.
"Valencia is a beautiful club. I played some interesting matches there. The environment, the stadium, the city. You only get that kind of feeling in certain countries," the Dutchman said.
Valencia has 18 points, seven points behind Real Madrid after the Spanish League leader beat Valencia 5-1 on Wednesday. Reserve team manager Oscar Hernandez was in charge of Valencia but Soler is confident Koeman can improve the club starting with Saturday's match against Mallorca.
"What we saw on the field isn't what the team has been capable of this season," Soler said. "We still have time to fix things, there is spirit in the team and hopefully little by little we can get back on the road we think we should be on."
Koeman had been under contract at PSV, which he guided to its 20th league title last season, until 2008.
"When Valencia expressed an interest in Ronald Koeman, we asked: 'Can't this wait until next year?'" PSV general director Jan Reker said. "Ronald has always said he dreamt of coaching a top club in Spain. We respect that. This is a dream club for him and they didn't want to wait.
"It's a shame for PSV, but for Ronald it's the ultimate challenge," Reker said.
The Dutchman rated his reign at PSV as "brief but successful."
"I find it very difficult to leave because PSV is a fantastic club," he said. "It's always a wish that if you sign a contract, you always stay. Some people will understand it, others not."
Reker said a Koeman's replacement is yet to be decided, adding that Valencia had agreed to compensate PSV, although he did not reveal the amount.
The 44-year-old Koeman played for FC Barcelona and for the Netherlands in its 1988 European Championship triumph. He also managed Portuguese side Benfica and guided Ajax to the Dutch league and cup double in 2002.
Jose Mourinho, Marcello Lippi and Fabio Capello were linked to take over after the exit of Sanchez Flores, who guided Valencia to third- and fourth-place finishes in his two full seasons at the club.
Ronald Koeman has resigned as manager of PSV Eindhoven to take over at Valencia. He will leave immediately along with assistant Tonny Bruins Slot to assume their new posts."Chances come by in life and I always take them, that's just the way I am," Koeman said. "It's also a fact that in the soccer world, this is the way it goes."
PSV said Koeman signed a three-year contract with Valencia to replace Quique Sanchez Flores, who was fired on Monday, a day after a 3-0 loss at Sevilla, the club's fourth defeat in five games.
"He's always been the first option," Valencia president Juan Soler said. "He has everything we want. He's a great trainer and he knows the situation of Valencia."
Soler said the deal would be finalized by Friday.
"Valencia is a beautiful club. I played some interesting matches there. The environment, the stadium, the city. You only get that kind of feeling in certain countries," the Dutchman said.
Valencia has 18 points, seven points behind Real Madrid after the Spanish League leader beat Valencia 5-1 on Wednesday. Reserve team manager Oscar Hernandez was in charge of Valencia but Soler is confident Koeman can improve the club starting with Saturday's match against Mallorca.
"What we saw on the field isn't what the team has been capable of this season," Soler said. "We still have time to fix things, there is spirit in the team and hopefully little by little we can get back on the road we think we should be on."
Koeman had been under contract at PSV, which he guided to its 20th league title last season, until 2008.
"When Valencia expressed an interest in Ronald Koeman, we asked: 'Can't this wait until next year?'" PSV general director Jan Reker said. "Ronald has always said he dreamt of coaching a top club in Spain. We respect that. This is a dream club for him and they didn't want to wait.
"It's a shame for PSV, but for Ronald it's the ultimate challenge," Reker said.
The Dutchman rated his reign at PSV as "brief but successful."
"I find it very difficult to leave because PSV is a fantastic club," he said. "It's always a wish that if you sign a contract, you always stay. Some people will understand it, others not."
Reker said a Koeman's replacement is yet to be decided, adding that Valencia had agreed to compensate PSV, although he did not reveal the amount.
The 44-year-old Koeman played for FC Barcelona and for the Netherlands in its 1988 European Championship triumph. He also managed Portuguese side Benfica and guided Ajax to the Dutch league and cup double in 2002.
Jose Mourinho, Marcello Lippi and Fabio Capello were linked to take over after the exit of Sanchez Flores, who guided Valencia to third- and fourth-place finishes in his two full seasons at the club.
Topics mentioned in this article
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