Ronald Koeman has expressed his interest in becoming the new manager at Aston Villa, according to Goal.

The Dutchman has been out of work since leaving AZ Alkmaar in December last year following a string of poor results, but he has set his sights on the vacant manager’s job at Villa Park.

Martin O’Neill resigned as Villa boss in August following a row with owner Randy Lerner over the amount of money available for transfers.

Caretaker manager Kevin MacDonald started the season well, but the comfortable 3-0 victory over West Ham United on the opening day appears to be a distant memory after their premature exit from the Europa League and a 6-0 drubbing at the hands of newly-promoted Newcastle United.

Koeman, though, has revealed he is interested in the post and has already begun mapping out the future if he is appointed to fill the managerial hotseat.

“I have been holding off and turning down offers simply because I want to coach in England, and where better than Villa Park?” Koeman told The Daily Express.

“In Holland we have always viewed Villa as an important club with a tradition of being powerful in Europe when I was younger, so I would be very interested in managing them if the job was offered to me.

“Even though the last two results have been painful blows, I also saw them take West Ham apart 3-0 and I enjoyed the playing style.

“One of the things I’d bring to Villa if I was in charge is the idea that winning is important in football, but winning while playing offensive football is the best of all.

“I love English football because of its brilliant atmosphere, intensity of the competition and the culture of respect that fans and players have for the game.

The 47-year-old won the European Cup as a player with Barcelona and PSV Eindhoven and has enjoyed managerial spells at PSV and Ajax.

“Villa have the perfect blend of talented young English players and experienced continental footballer, so I see no reason why they could not qualify for Champions League football next season,” he said.

“I’ve coached in Holland, Portugal and Spain and not only won trophies each time, but taken sides to the latter stages of the Champions League.

“I’d like to match that with Villa if the job becomes available.”

chris davie – goal