Southampton are reportedly looking to bring in Frank de Boer as their new manager.
Former Ajax Head Coach Frank De Boer
According to Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, Southampton have made a serious move to land Frank de Boer as their new manager.
Current Saints boss Ronald Koeman is poised to complete a move to Premier League rivals Everton by the end of the week, with the Dutchman bringing his two-year stint at St. Mary’s Stadium to an end.
Two years after losing Mauricio Pochettino to Tottenham, Southampton must now consider their next move as they pursue a new manager – and an early candidate appears to have emerged, even though Koeman’s deal hasn’t even been confirmed yet.
Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf report that, with Koeman on the way out, another Dutchman could be replacing him in Frank de Boer.
The 44-year-old is a free agent having left Ajax last month, and having won four successive Eredivisie titles in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014, he’s built up quite the reputation for himself in Amsterdam.
Now though, after two years without the title as PSV Eindhoven have re-claimed top spot in the Netherlands, De Boer has left Ajax – and De Telegraaf suggest he could be on his way to Southampton.
The report claims that Southampton have made a ‘serious attempt’ to land De Boer, having been impressed with his work at Ajax, and think he can continue what Koeman has achieved on the South Coast.
Interestingly, De Boer and Koeman have major links to each other. They played together for the Netherlands national team at the 1992 European Championships and 1994 World Cup, and then served as rivals to each other between 2011 and 2014 as De Boer took charge of Ajax and Koeman led Feyenoord; the biggest rivalry in Dutch football, dubbed Der Klassieker.
It would be fascinating to see a former team-mate and managerial rival replace Koeman at Southampton, and add some more intrigue when Southampton face Everton – if De Boer does get the job.
Would you like to see De Boer replace Koeman?
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