Jump directly to the content
Feature
Come and Koe

Sacked Everton boss Ronald Koeman linked with Leicester City job but would he be a good replacement for Craig Shakespeare?

Dutchman no longer in charge of Toffees after being relieved of duties following heavy defeat to Arsenal at Goodison Park

WITH nine games gone in the current Premier League campaign, both Leicester City and Everton are looking for a new manager.

It’s not the ideal situation for the 2015/16 champions, or a club who has spent over £150million in the summer.

 Could Ronald Koeman take over at Leicester? And would he be a good choice?
4
Could Ronald Koeman take over at Leicester? And would he be a good choice?Credit: PA:Press Association

Football Whispers ask the question, would Ronald Koeman be a good appointment for Leicester City this season?

Craig Shakespeare was given the elbow by the Foxes last week, with the former coach having to say goodbye to the King Power Stadium.

He was their saviour last term, helping take over from Claudio Ranieri and edging his team away from the relegation zone, but after eight games they had won only once and looked a shadow of the side that shocked everyone in the Champions League.

Then on Monday, unsurprisingly, Ronald Koeman was relieved of his duties at Goodison Park after the 5-2 home defeat to Arsenal.

Would Ronald Koeman be a good appointment for Leicester City this season?
 Leicester need a new gaffer after sacking Craig Shakespeare
4
Leicester need a new gaffer after sacking Craig ShakespeareCredit: PA:Press Association

Nine players arrived in the summer for £158million. Most of that came on the back of Romelu Lukaku’s £75million move to Manchester United.

It was a known secret, everyone expected the Belgian to leave, yet, Sandro Ramirez - a 21-year-old inexperienced forward - was the only player you could class as his replacement.


PELL'S BELLS Manuel Pellegrini tops lists of candidates to become new Leicester manager


The Dutch coach still has a positive Premier League pedigree after the great job he did at Southampton, but now there are some doubts.

Leicester need an experienced coach after Shakespeare’s departure and many would see Koeman as the ideal replacement at this point of the season.

 Koeman himself has just been sacked by big-spenders Everton
4
Koeman himself has just been sacked by big-spenders EvertonCredit: Rex Features
 Would Koeman do a better job at the King Power than Shakespeare?
4
Would Koeman do a better job at the King Power than Shakespeare?Credit: Rex Features

He doesn’t need to adjust to the league, he knows how the Premier League works and has impressed outside of his failure on Merseyside this term.

However, for the Toffees, his tactics and team selection decisions should worry Foxes fans.

The former Barcelona star never quite figured out his best XI, which is odd due to the fact he signed a high number of them.

With the way that rotation and changing the line-up hurt Ranieri at the end at Leicester, Koeman could have the same downside.

Koeman didn’t seem to have the right players in place to adapt to the way he wanted to play at Everton. Analysing the squad at Leicester and the pieces he would have look a worse fit with how he would want to play.


SUN BETS: BET £10 GET A FREE £30 BET


Ronald Koeman - Summer signings couldn't save the Dutchman at Everton

On their way to the title, and whenever they have looked comfortable and impressive, they play better on the counter. That’s how you get the best out of Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez and it would go against Koeman’s total football to play in that way.

Everton’s strong point this term has been the additions in defence, with Jordan Pickford and Michael Keane looking great long-term options for the Toffees, but the aged legs of Ashley Williams and Phil Jagielka made playing three at the back a strange decision.

Trying a similar ploy with Wes Morgan, Danny Simpson and Christian Fuchs makes just as little sense.

Carlo Ancelotti, Roberto Mancini and Sean Dyche are five potential new permanent Leicester bosses

Would the Dutchman be able to go against his football values and stick with Leicester’s 4-4-2, or would he look to rip it all up and start again? That is a risky move when you are already struggling. At this stage, you are looking for quick results and a motivational boost.

Murmurs out of Goodison suggest that Koeman is not the man you want to give underperforming players a kick up the butt.

Sitting just one point off the relegation zone, and with the same amount of wins he managed at Everton, it would be a massive gamble to throw Koeman out of the frying pan and into the fire.

Topics