Ronald Koeman has revealed that Sammy Lee’s Liverpool connection prevented him from becoming a member of Everton’s coaching staff.
Koeman worked with Lee during his two-year spell in charge at Southampton and had hoped for a swift reunion at Goodison Park this summer.
The Dutchman brought brother Erwin and fitness coach Jan Kluitenberg from St Mary’s but the South Coast club resisted approaches for other backroom personnel.
They included goalkeeping coach Dave Watson and Lee, who later joined England after Koeman’s replacement Claude Puel drafted in his own assistants.
“Sammy has such a great history as a Liverpool player that it was difficult to take him to Everton,” Koeman wrote in De Telegraaf.
“When I announced that I was going to Everton, the Dutch [staff] were allowed to leave but not Sammy and goalkeeping coach Dave Watson either.
“Sammy later still had to go, because the new coach of Southampton brought two assistants.
“Then I’ve looked at what I could do for Sammy, but I soon noticed that his Liverpool background was a problem.
“It was not Sammy as a person, because they may really like him, therefore I was glad he got the chance with the national team of England.
“And fortunately he remained there after the situation with the departed coach Sam Allardyce.”