This is how Koeman's appointment as Barça coach happened

His appointment as Barcelona coach was a question of hours and was negotiated during one of the convulsive weekends in the club's recent history following the 5-2 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League. 

"That game was played on a Friday and I was in Barcelona that week because a while ago we had bought a house in the city," Ronald Koeman told SPORT in an exclusive interview. 

"We were finalising the details of the purchase and on the Friday we watched the game. We returned to Holland on Sunday afternoon. On Saturday [24 hours after the Bayern defeat], Bartomeu called me. We saw each other on the Sunday, hours before I flew to Holland. We met at my house and he asked if I would be interested in coaching Barça." 

Koeman was the coach of the Netherlands at the time but, along with many other things, the pandemic had disrupted his plans. 

"'This time, yes,' I told Bartomeu. 'But I have to speak with the people at the Dutch Federation.'" 

Koeman had a contract with Holland until the 2020 European Championships, which have been postponed until 2021. 

He added: "Everything moved very quickly, bt Tuesday or Wednesday I already had an agreement with Barcelona. 

"Barça had called me in January, but at that moment I was thinking of the Euros and was committed to the national team. In August, it was different. Because of Covid there hadn't been a Euros and who knows if there will be next summer, with so many people moving across so many countries." 

Barcelona had to pay the Dutch Federation compensation to release Koeman from his contract. 

GOODBYE bartomeu AND ELECTIONS 

Less than three months after appointing Koeman, Bartomeu resigned as Barcelona players. 

"It was complicated," Koeman admits now. "I was with Bartomeu for a time and in the end, along with his directors, they decided to leave (the club). I felt bad for him, personally.

"I knew that we were going to have a change of president, but I still don't know when elections will be. I can't do anything in that respect. I hope the best candidate wins. We will congratulate the new president and keep working hard." 

One of the candidates, Victor Font, suggested he wouldn't keep Koeman in a job, although he later altered his comments. 

"I don't worry about that because it's not something I can change," Koeman says. "Every candidate will have their preferences. The only thing I can do is get Barça playing well and winning games. That's in my hands. What happens in the future with other issues is not." 

Koeman's contract runs until 2022. He signed in the middle of a pandemic, aware of the limitations that meant for him personally and the team in terms of signing players. But he's satisfied and is already thinking of staying for longer. 

"I hope it will be for longer, but the current deal is two years," he said. "The club knows that. We will see what happens, there's no need to talk about that." 

HEALTH PROBLEMs

At the start of May, Koeman underwent a heart procedure in Amsterdam after experiencing chest pain while in lockdown. Fortunately, he made a full recovery. 

"I am happy because I don't have any problem," he explained. "The doctors have it under control and have told me that there's no problem coaching the team." 

Even Barça? 

"Even Barça," Koeman smiled. "The doctors have given me permission to coach, fortunately I am doing really well."