Ronald Koeman has revealed he knew the axe was falling in his final days at Everton .

The Dutch boss, who was sacked on Monday, has lifted the lid on his final days at Goodison Park.

He said: “Last Thursday, after our defeat to Lyon in the Europa League, I knew it was crisis time. I am not daft, I know how the football world operates.

“I could figure out how things could go. I was sure I would be on the bench against Arsenal on Sunday. But another defeat against Arsenal and I could see that anything would happen.”

Manager Koeman was privately hoping he might survive until next month’s international break. He felt right up until the chop came on Monday that he could turn things around.

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Speaking for the first time since his departure after Sunday's 5-2 home thrashing by the Gunners: “And if things did not improve in those last games, I had worked out what would happen.

“Maybe there was a chance to coach against Chelsea in the League Cup and maybe I would be able to do Leicester City away and Watford just before the international break.’’

Despite being sacked, Koeman bears no malice towards chairman Bill Kenwright or majority share-owner Farhad Moshiri.

Koeman certainly looked uneasy as French side Lyon won at Goodison last Thursday (
Image:
Liverpool Echo)

The 54-year-old, who was in charge for 17 months after leaving Premier league rivals Southampton, explained: “I could be wrong, but I felt real support from these two people all the way.

“I knew that Everton, as a club, do not have a reputation for sacking managers quickly. But I always knew that It could still happen. At some stage in football, people are left with unavoidable decisions. Even though they were right behind me, there is such a thing as a decision for the eye of the public.

Kenwright traditionally stands by his managers, but felt he had to act this time (
Image:
Liverpool Echo)

“With Bill Kenwright, I had a very good relationship. In his office, he has all these awards which he has won with films and theatre productions. I could not quite understand what they all were and he thought that was funny.

“‘Your life is only about football, football, football!’ he used to say to me.”

Conceding five at home to Arsenal was the final straw — Everton sacked Koeman the next day (
Image:
PA)

Koeman also revealed the worrying toll he and his family faced during his final days on Merseyside.

He told Dutch football magazine VI.: “I can put on a brave face and say I can handle it well, but a crisis like that at Everton certainly affected me. Any coach who says it doesn’t affect him, is lying.”

Koeman’s wife, Bartina, had already faced a personal battle to conquer breast cancer. That successful fight for her life tempered the latest Koeman crisis.

The former Barcelona star and Dutch international went on: “It is not a nice thing to experience, especially for your family, your wife, your kids. It is funny how that works.

“When Bartina had won her battle against cancer, she said, ‘I don’t care what happens with your football, I really don’t.’ But when the time came that things did not work out here and the pressure was mounting, I could see she started to get worried again.

“My kids are all grown-ups now, they lead their own lives.

“You would think it does not affect them when their dad is in trouble for a few weeks. But later I heard they found it really difficult to watch the Everton games because they couldn’t bear to see me lose.’’

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