Soccer Rumors 2015: Southampton Boss Ronald Koeman Eyeing Manchester City, FC Barcelona as Next Destination
Ronald Koeman is focused on his current job, but the Southampton manager admitted that he is looking to coach a big club in the future.
Koeman is being linked to a move to bigger clubs as he is doing a great job in his first season as Southampton boss. Despite losing several key players like Luke Shaw and Adam Lallana in the offseason, Southampton are still in contention for a Champions League spot next season.
Southampton are currently in sixth place in the Barclays Premier League table with 50 points in 29 games. They are just four points behind fifth-placed Liverpool and six points behind fourth-placed Manchester United.
Based on his experience coaching Southampton this season, Koeman, who also had coaching stints at Vitesse, Ajax, Benfica, PSV Eindhoven, Valencia, AZ and Feyenoord from 2000 to 2014, declared he is ready for bigger challenges in his career.
"I am ready to coach a big club," Koeman told El Partido via ESPN FC. "I have spent a lot of time coaching at various clubs, and this type of experience is very important to be a good coach."
When asked about rumors linking him to Manchester City, Koeman revealed that he has connections to the club, as he is still in contact with former teammate Txiki Begiristain, who is Manchester City's current director of football.
"Txiki has my number," Koeman said in jest. "That is a joke. But we are in contact from time to time. We saw each other when we played City. We are friends and in frequent contact. We are both very happy to be able to work in England."
Koeman played alongside Begiristain at FC Barcelona from 1989 to 1995. And as for a possible return at Camp Nou, where he was also an assistant coach from 1998 to 2000, Koeman said that he would love to coach FC Barcelona.
"Everyone knows what I have for Barcelona, and what Barcelona has with Ronald Koeman, so if one day in the future I could be the coach, then of course I would be delighted," Koeman added.
Should he get a call from top-tier teams this summer, Koeman will have to work it out with Southampton as he still has two more years left in his contract after the current season.
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