体坛英语新闻：Ronald Koeman becomes new coach of Feyenoord

THE HAGUE, Jul. 21 (Xinhua) -- Ronald Koeman agreed to become the new coach of Feyenoord, the Rotterdam-based club announced on Thursday.

The 48-year-old former Feyenoord player will sign a one-year contract on Monday.

Koeman succeeds Mario Been, who quit last week after a breach of trust with the players. During a voting thirteen of the eighteen voting players opted for his departure. Been had been coach at Feyenoord since 2009. In his first season he finished fourth and last year he finished on a disappointing tenth place in the Dutch Eredivisie.

Previously Koeman was coach of FC Barcelona B, Vitesse Arnhem, Ajax, Benfica, PSV, Valencia and AZ Alkmaar. He is the first to represent the traditional Dutch top clubs Ajax, PSV and Feyenoord as a coach and as a player. His brother Erwin was head coach at Feyenoord between 2005 and 2007.

As a player Koeman was active for Feyenoord between 1995 and 1997 and before that the he was playing for FC Groningen, Ajax, PSV and FC Barcelona. He played for the Dutch national team 78 times.

Koeman is looking forward to his new job at Feyenoord. "Needless to say, Feyenoord is a great club to resume my coaching career," he said on the club website. "It is my firm conviction that we are able to surprise this season. There is indeed plenty of quality and talent in this young squad."

The technical staff of Feyenoord will also include former players Jean-Paul van Gastel and Giovanni van Bronckhorst.