Season › 2021-22 › General Forum Ronald Koeman sacked from Barcelona job 28/10/2021 Share: Ronald Koeman has been relieved from his managerial duties with Barcelona, following a poor start to the 2021-22 season, after only 14 months in the high-profile job at the Nou Camp.It came as something of a surprise when Koeman resigned his post as head of the Dutch national team to take the prestigious job in La Ligue. He had agreed a 4½-year contract to manage his country's stars through to the 2022 World Cup a few months after being sacked from his job as Everton manager in October 2017. But when the opportunity of managing Barcelona came up — the club where he'd spent arguably his best years as a player — he could not say no to his 'dream job'. Reader Comments (45) Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer Geoff Lambert 1 Posted 27/10/2021 at 23:33:00 Barca sack Koeman Colin Metcalfe 2 Posted 27/10/2021 at 23:36:39 I see Koeman finally got the bullet, a man who thinks very highly of himself and yet has a awful record at club management... why oh why did we hire that fraud? David Pearl 3 Posted 27/10/2021 at 23:37:49 Geoff, in all seriousness you have to feel sorry for Koeman. We should have a whip round to tide him over. Mike Gaynes 4 Posted 28/10/2021 at 00:22:44 I watched the Barca game today. Koeman's face as he walked off the pitch at Rayo bore the expression of a guy whose suitcases were already in the trunk of his car -- and the engine was running. Xavi is in line to replace him. Mike Gaynes 5 Posted 28/10/2021 at 00:34:47 Should I have said "boot" instead of "trunk"? Derek Moore 6 Posted 28/10/2021 at 01:08:31 +1 for boot over trunk. Maybe more universal next time Mr Gaynes - "suitcases were already in a taxi cab with the meter running" perhaps? It certainly seems that second season is the back breaker for Senor Koeman. To continue the luggage theme, his teams fall apart in year two like a three dollar suitcase. Adios hombre, but think of the positives. More time to work on the short game. I wish my Spanish was better. I'd love to know if there's a Barcelona equivalent of these pages, and if somewhere a fan is documenting how it was Joan Laporta undermining Rotten Ronny the entire time. I'd be willing to bet quite a lot there is. Some mysteries are too profound to solve in our lifetimes. But the "Koeman is pants" case, I do think we've gotten her over the line. Michael Kenrick 7 Posted 28/10/2021 at 09:27:50 Interesting succession of 'Hollywood' managers (stupid epithet) that we have 'suffered' since bidding a teary farewell to David Moyes. (Oh gawd, no... why did I mention him?) Martinez, Koeman, Allardyce, Silva, Ancelotti, Benitez...Koeman's uniquely disinterested stance and preference for golfing will never be forgotten. But what a Rogue's Gallery we are assembling. I didn't realize in checking the list that Silva was out of a job for 18 months after leaving us before he took the reigns at Fulham. Martin Nicholls 8 Posted 28/10/2021 at 09:47:19 The fraud will walk into another job courtesy of the managerial merry-go-round. Next stop Newcastle and another massive boost to the bank balance? And Arteta thinks we should all feel sorry for these poor souls! Danny O’Neill 9 Posted 28/10/2021 at 10:07:05 I didn't realise that about Silva either Michael.From your Merseyside Police Identification Parade of Everton suspects (former managers), if I put the football aside, the only 2 who emerge with respect and dignity for me are Martinez and Silva. Think I've said it all before, but my view on all of them:Martinez: Extremely nervous. I thought it was a mistake waiting to happen. He proved me wrong and what a season. Then he started to prove my initial nervousness right. Unfortunately. I ended up being a staunch defender ironically, hoping he was going to get back to those ways.Koeman: Hands up. I got hoodwinked by 1980s Danny's view of Koeman the player. Alarm bells going when he seemed to hesitate. He clearly didn't want to be here. The disjointedness of transfers and when a lot of the damage was done that we're still cleaning up, happened on his watch. I try not to let my view of him as a manager tarnish the player I watched as a kid. Fantastic centre back with one of the most fearsome bullet like shots you'll ever see.Allardyce: A part of me died typing that. He was actually our manager? Did it really happen?Silva: See Martinez. More than nervous this time. He got Hull relegated and we'd been here before, but we're going back for more? That said, brief optimism for half a season when we seemed to be flying. But like many, only had one way to play and when it didn't work, folded his arms and stood watching.Ancelotti: So hopeful for this one. We got a big name. A past winner who could put us on the map. Those voices who called out that he would struggle to manage non-top players proved right, although we got agonisingly close to Europe, which could have changed things. Bolted as soon as that collapsed, Real came calling and presumably he could see the FFP shit show that was coming. Disappointed is an understatement. I'd go as far to call it unprofessional, but that's with my Everton glasses on.Benitez: More of the same in terms of big name and past winner. But ironically more suited to the job at Everton? Nervous and uncomfortable with this one, but as with all the above, I'll support him as I did them. Exception being Allardyce. I just couldn't and focussed on the team. I couldn't look at the dugout. Allen Rodgers 10 Posted 28/10/2021 at 10:16:48 I had high hopes of success under Koeman. His first game was Spurs at home and we played great competitive football, although we only drew. It didn't take long for him to show his true colours though. Arrogant, disinterested and self centred. Sacked by Barca - couldn't happen to a nicer bloke. David Midgley 11 Posted 28/10/2021 at 10:44:23 Can anyone say if this is correct or not. I think I read that when Koeman was sacked that there was a clause in his contract that EFC would continue to pay his wages until he took up another full-time managerial position. His managing the Dutch team didn't count as full-time and he continued to be paid. I hope that I have this completely and utterly wrong. Rob Dolby 12 Posted 28/10/2021 at 11:25:02 Add him to the list of great players that find managing more difficult than playing.After listening to Roberto's bullshit I wanted Koeman for the blues as his straight talking gave the impression of a disciplinarian. It was just arrogance.Alarm bells rang more or less straight away with the random scattergun approach plus his dedication to the golf course. Barry Rathbone 13 Posted 28/10/2021 at 11:31:33 Delighted with the news of his Barca demise.I try not to be vindictive but from the moment this clown put his holiday before turning up here the odour of rank misjudgement enveloped him. I can put up with things not working out if employees take the club seriously - Martinez, Allardyce, Silva - all looked interested Koeman never did. Carlo pretended to and in fairness Moyes did initially but in the end was as shifty as Carlo.Up yours, Ronnie, you utter fraud. David Pearl 14 Posted 28/10/2021 at 11:41:15 I actually heard a rumour that he wanted to lose his job just so he could be available for the next ToffeeWeb golf do.I'm guessing he will get 3 years of his contract paid to him for doing nothing. Just like he got from that team Everton.What a team Barca had not so long ago. One of, if not, the best l have ever seen. They were that good that Guardiola only played with one centre-back. Piss take or what. Will Mabon 15 Posted 28/10/2021 at 11:41:53 Everything that I've ever seen from Koeman as a "Manager" could make me wonder whether the theatre of football is fixed.The very curious early hype as a future Barcelona manager based on nothing; hype that grew in inverse proportion as he continued to cement how little he has to offer, all presented in a vein of dour, gruff and misplaced arrogance.Even stranger that the early evidence of his unsuitability and difficult persona was ignored for every subsequent appointment - and on he continued, laying the same trail.Should have retired the 26-inch tree trunks with his reputation intact. He is no manager. Ken Kneale 16 Posted 28/10/2021 at 12:06:01 Barry - Your schadenfreude spreads rapidly - I cannot disagree. Allen Rodgers 17 Posted 28/10/2021 at 12:33:53 David @11, I recall something like that but I thought it was linked to salary. The Dutch job didn't pay as well as a club job so Everton had to make up his wages for a spell - hope I've got that wrong ! Ajay Gopal 18 Posted 28/10/2021 at 12:57:12 Totally agree with all the comments, especially Barry (13). He was a total fraud - his worst was when he told Lukaku that if he ended his career at Everton, it meant that he had never fulfilled his potential! Probably a true comment, but how dare he when he was collecting his pay check from Everton. If I was Moshiri, I would have sacked him on the spot and made a valid case for kicking him out without compensation because he had undermined the club. Paul Hewitt 19 Posted 28/10/2021 at 13:20:31 Seeing that many would like to see the back of Rafa... Why don't we offer him to Newcastle and get Koeman back? Colin Glassar 20 Posted 28/10/2021 at 13:35:18 I'd prefer Big Sam, Paul. Ray Roche 21 Posted 28/10/2021 at 13:42:47 “Why don't we offer him to Newcastle and get Koeman back?“Why don't we put our dicks in a blender? Colin Glassar 22 Posted 28/10/2021 at 13:44:36 I think Paul is being sarcastic, Ray. Brent Stephens 23 Posted 28/10/2021 at 13:51:28 Ray, I'm not going to try that again! Christopher Timmins 24 Posted 28/10/2021 at 14:35:29 He did a lot of long-term damage during his time with us. We are still trying to tidy up the mess that he left. His dream job turned into a nightmare.No tears being shed here for his demise. Mick Conalty 25 Posted 28/10/2021 at 14:51:21 GREAT!!! One down, one to go. Ancelotti you are next. Bring them both back to Goodison to be paraded in front of The Grim Reaper.Disrespecting Everton!!! Pair of Bastards. Danny O’Neill 26 Posted 28/10/2021 at 15:06:22 Spot on opening paragraph @12 Rob Dolby.I can't think of many top, top drawer players who succeed at management. They are few and far between.My theory is that they were that good players, they didn't have to think about it. It was instinct. So they don't know how to explain it.Whereas an average player who done well and played at a decent level without setting the world alight, knows what it takes but can explain, demonstrate and coach.I'll give you another Dutch example; Guilit. I don't know if it's because they are not interested because they're not on the pitch anymore. Or, they get frustrated because players can't do what they would do. I don't know the stats, and it would be open to interpretation of opinion, but I think generally, the majority of the most successful managers were not the superstars of their day.Look at the Premier League Top 8 right now. In fact let's go top 10. Maybe 2 in there who were genuine top drawer players? And even one of those was a renowned super-sub. Pete Clarke 27 Posted 28/10/2021 at 15:19:44 Hey Mick. Talking about the Grim Reaper, where was he when Moyes came to visit the other week? And all this talk of Benitez going back to Newcastle. It's too far from Candy, isn't it? Michael Kenrick 28 Posted 28/10/2021 at 15:27:00 A fair few gems here. I may have to save some for his Obituary. Pete Clarke 29 Posted 28/10/2021 at 15:37:55 Sorry. That should have read, Caldy. On the subject of Rafa Benitez. I was far from happy with his appointment and he has a lot to do to make me happy as far as improving the team. However, if he is going to challenge the hierarchy and start calling for change in all areas related to football and we finally get rid of some deadwood, then I'll back Rafa. All of the past managers mentioned in this thread were obviously only too willing to go along with the orders from football dunces running the club. Robert Tressell 30 Posted 28/10/2021 at 15:39:39 Koeman must be experiencing deja vu. Barca have their worst squad in years due to appalling vanity recruitment and, in fairness, injuries. Someone, probably Xavi, now needs to shed a few high earners and build a team around the excellent Gavi, Pedri and Fati. Danny O’Neill 31 Posted 28/10/2021 at 15:45:45 Ray @21. That sort of in-extremis action would only be reserved for hearing that a certain fireman was on his way back. Kieran Kinsella 32 Posted 28/10/2021 at 15:50:37 Wonder if anyone on the Barcelona equivalent of ToffeeWeb is upset about true blue and maroon playing legend getting the sack? They will probably blame the succession of "Busted flush Hollywood managers" for fritting away the cash, and slag off the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper fact finders who say that the youth coaches have gone into decline and produced "diamonds" like Deulofeu who were "never given a chance." You can get pretty good panoramic views up there in the Nou Camp so I am sure there's an expert on BlaugranaWeb putting the world to rights. Niall McIlhone 33 Posted 28/10/2021 at 15:52:20 Still haven't forgiven Koeman for having a red Christmas tree and not having the nous to understand it's gauche behaviour for an Everton manager. ….or maybe he did, and it was his way of taunting the fans as to his not giving a rat's arse about our club. I suspect he may possibly end up in the Ajax job if Ten Haag moves on to England? Robert Tressell 34 Posted 28/10/2021 at 15:53:41 Danny #26, I think the reason so few top players make top managers is simply that the skill sets are so different.There's a good piece from Julian Nagelsmann of Bayern (still only 34) with the sound bite management is 30% tactics and 70% social competence. That's very unlike being a player. Ferguson, Wenger, Mourinho etc were all incredibly shrewd operators who made individuals better and made teams better than the sum of their parts - and that applies to the wider coaching staff as much as it applies to the playing staff. These guys would have been a success in any walk of life. People with their skill set and drive always go far. Barry Hesketh 35 Posted 28/10/2021 at 15:57:22 Pete @27I'm so annoyed with you I was looking for an anthem for Benitez and you go and spoil it by saying you meant Caldy.Link Ray Roche 36 Posted 28/10/2021 at 16:02:46 Colin Glassar@22Yes Colin, I didn't think he was serious.Brent, stings a bit doesn't it? Barry Hesketh 37 Posted 28/10/2021 at 16:05:43 Kieran @32A couple of nuggets from carameloweb.Argumento del hombre de paja - Strawman argumentJugador de campeonato en el mejor de los casos - Championship player at best. No soltarà su tren - He won't let go of his train set. I'm not convinced this one is correct though. Kieran Kinsella 38 Posted 28/10/2021 at 16:15:42 BarryHahaha the universal language of fans Neil Tyrrell 39 Posted 28/10/2021 at 16:38:03 As the man himself said too many times in his interviews after we lost:"Dish iss futbol" Dale Self 40 Posted 28/10/2021 at 17:09:14 The social competence component was what I was going to comment on but that from Nagelsmann is well said Robert. Before seeing that, my take was that Koeman was part of a dying breed of legend coaches that are expected to somehow magically solve superstar locker rooms or misfit squads. Probably what Moshiri was thinking when he invited Carlo to the party. Sean Roe 41 Posted 28/10/2021 at 17:43:17 You can make a good living out of being a crap manager. I wish my employer would give me the push with a few million in my back pocket! David Bromwell 42 Posted 28/10/2021 at 17:58:33 Koeman got off to a bad start for me, appointed his brother as his assistant and then went on holiday. He always looked like he should really be somewhere else and Everton should be grateful for his presence. Sadly, when he was rightly sacked, it still cost us a fortune. I cannot remember him contributing anything, and I hope that this is the end of his time in management. Tom Bowers 43 Posted 28/10/2021 at 18:14:17 Koeman is a phoney, end of story. Brian Wilkinson 44 Posted 04/11/2021 at 11:54:19 Failure is better than success for some, yes you read that right.Fail at a club and get paid up within a year and still be paid the remaining three years. Let the dust settle for a few months, take another job, fail again, get paid up for remaining 3 years. That is 8 years salary, for doing a 2-year project tops.It is time something is brought in. You fail at a club, you have two choices: you do not work for the remaining time left on your contract elsewhere; if you take a job elsewhere, then the previous club does not have to pay anything after employment elsewhere has commenced. Justin Doone 45 Posted 04/11/2021 at 22:43:13 Not bothered and not surprised. Barca gig is a tough job currently. I don't like the guy. Never forgave him for the cheating clothesline he choked Amokatchi with. He did a good job at Southampton and can see him doing well at a Dutch or German club bringing through talented youngsters. I understand why he didn't but he should have stayed managing the national team. Add Your Comments In order to post a comment, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site. » Log in now Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and Talking Points submissions across the site. About these ads Find out how to browse ad-free and support ToffeeWeb © ToffeeWeb