Koeman’s Replacement – Leftfield Contenders

Ronald Koeman finally fell on his sword after a disastrous start to the season at Everton, but the frontrunners to replace the Dutchman at Goodison Park are equally uninspiring.

Burnley’s Sean Dyche (15/8), Everton’s Under-23s boss David Unsworth (9/2), former Toffees manager David Moyes (6/1) and Sam Allardyce (13/2) currently head the betting to replace Koeman.

We have had a look at some more leftfield options that could get Everton purring again.

Thomas Tuchel (16/1)

Out of work since his dismissal from Borussia Dortmund in May, the German is also reportedly high on Leicester City’s wanted list.

The 44-year-old has been linked with several high-profile jobs in the last few months – most recently Bayern Munich’s – so may be holding out for a higher profile position than the one that Everton can offer. He has also allegedly turned down the chance to take over from Slaven Bilic at West Ham. However, the financial package on offer may prove difficult to turn down at Goodison Park – Koeman’s contract at Everton made him the eleventh highest paid manager in world of football.

Paulo Fonseca (16/1)

“All coaches want to go to England and I am one”. It was only last week that Shakhtar Donetsk manager Paulo Fonseca was fluttering his eyelashes at the Premier League chairmen, and his growing reputation means that move may come sooner rather than later.

The Portuguese reportedly rejected overtures from Leicester City about their vacancy but may see the role at Goodison as more attractive. He won the double in Ukraine last season and has guided his side to second place in a tough Champions League group containing Manchester City, Napoli and Feyenoord.

Brendan Rodgers (33/1)

A move for the Northern Irishman would certainly be controversial, given his history at Liverpool, but it’s not fanciful to suggest that Everton are possibly the biggest Premier League club that Rodgers could currently secure employment with.

He’s rebuilt his reputation somewhat with Celtic but has never hidden his ambition to return one day to English football. Whether he’d be well received by Everton fans is another question, with many no doubt fearing his similarities to Roberto Martinez could drag the club backwards. Would he leave Celtic though in the middle of a Champions League campaign?

Laurent Blanc (33/1)

Another big name out of work, Blanc has been unemployed since his dismissal sixteen months ago at Paris Saint-Germain. He has been recently linked with taking over as manager of the United States, which he dismissed as mere rumours. However, he did indicate that he is ready to return to football, stating that “What I’m interested in is to try and have a good project. If a board member offers me a challenge like that, I would do it with great pleasure.”

Whether Everton’s project would interest him is another matter but he spent two years as a player in England with Manchester United and has taken intensive English lessons in the past.

Phillipe Cocu (40/1)

It’s understandable if Everton were to be wary of appointing another Dutch manager considering Koeman’s ill-fated reign. Allied to that, the likes of Frank de Boer and Louis van Gaal have done little to enhance the reputation of Dutch managers in English football.

However, it would be remiss of Everton to dismiss Cocu’s credentials based on his nationality. The former Barcelona midfielder has won back-to-back titles in the Netherlands – including PSV’s first since 2008 – and his side currently sit five points clear of Ajax at the top of this season’s Eredivisie table. ​