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Koeman: Youth policy lured me

Cape Town - New Southampton manager Ronald Koeman says the club's youth policy convinced him to move to England.

The former Holland midfielder replaced Mauricio Pochettino, who has left to join Tottenham.

"I was very impressed about the philosophy of the club," Koeman told Southampton's official YouTube channel.

"I knew a lot of Southampton FC because in Holland, the youth academy of Southampton is very famous.

"It's a little like Holland because they give a lot of possibilities for young players to reach the first team.

"It has always been a great ambition to come to England. It's maybe the strongest competition in Europe and from Holland we admire the Premier League.

"I said to myself if one day I get a chance to come to the Premier League, I would like to do it." Koeman, who will have his brother, Erwin, as his assistant manager, said he would try to build on Southampton's performance last season.

"I saw some of the squad and we know about all the rumours about the players (leaving)," he said.

"The club and I will do everything to keep the best players but in the end that's the decision of the club. I am looking forward to getting started."

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