MY ACCOUNT
A 2-1 loss to lowly Norwich proved to be the final nail in Rafa Benitez’s Everton coffin, with the 61-year-old relieved of his duties at Goodison Park yesterday.
Controversially appointed in the summer despite links to bitter rivals Liverpool, the Spaniard made a fast start but a dire run of results has seen things unravel quickly.
With the Toffees languishing in 16th place, the new manager will need to hit the ground running on Merseyside to lift spirits and get points on the board.
We take a look at five of the leading candidates for the role.
Roberto Martinez
In news which has caught many by surprise, Everton’s first choice to replace Benitez is reported to be their former boss Roberto Martinez.
Currently in charge of the Belgium national side, the 48-year-old spent three seasons in the Goodison Park hotseat between 2013 and 2016 before being axed.
Though his tenure ended on a disappointing note, Martinez led the Toffees to a fifth-place finish in the 2013-14 season, as well as two domestic cup semi-finals in his last campaign.
The Spaniard remains extremely fond of the club and is thought to be open-minded on a return, though it should not be forgotten his previous stint on Merseyside ended with fans calling for his head.
Adding in the fact that Belgium are now just 10 months away from kicking off their 2022 World Cup campaign in Qatar, significant compensation would likely be required to terminate that contract early.
Duncan Ferguson
Although he possesses limited managerial experience, Everton legend Duncan Ferguson is a leading contender to take the reins at Goodison Park until the end of the campaign.
Netting 60 goals in 239 Premier League appearances for the club during his playing days, the fiery Scot has been a mainstay in the Toffees’ coaching setup over the last decade and is a popular figure with most fans.
Wearing his heart on his sleeve, Ferguson’s no-nonsense approach yielded positive performances during a four-game caretaker spell in December 2019 and he has shown an interest in the role previously.
Reports have even suggested he turned down a position in Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid coaching staff, showing a level of loyalty to the Toffees that is a rare commodity in modern football.
Having received public backing from former team-mates including Ally McCoist, Don Hutchinson and Trevor Steven to land the role, 50-year-old Ferguson may soon see that commitment rewarded.
Wayne Rooney
Another club icon linked with the hotseat is Wayne Rooney, with the 36-year-old having worked wonders at crisis club Derby this term.
Born and raised in the heart of Liverpool, Rooney is arguably Everton’s greatest ever product — even if he did achieve his playing honours in a Manchester United shirt.
Still England’s record goalscorer, Rooney is a boyhood supporter of the Toffees and has certainly been earning his managerial stripes the hard way in the Championship.
Despite seeing the club placed into administration, having his playing squad decimated and having 21 points deducted, Rooney continues to spearhead Derby’s unlikely charge towards survival with the Rams having taken 13 points from their last five games.
Though seemingly as committed to the cause as anyone in the East Midlands, would Rooney really be able to resist if Everton came calling?
Graham Potter
Whether Graham Potter would leave behind Brighton’s push for continental qualification to take the Everton job is not clear — but the Merseysiders have him on their radar.
Potter’s unusual rise to the top is well documented, with the 46-year-old coach having mastered his craft during a seven-year stint with Swedish outfit Ostersunds before returning to British shores with Swansea in 2018.
His stock has only continued to rise during his time with both the Welsh club and, more recently, the Seagulls, who are flying high in the top half of the Premier League playing an attractive brand of football.
Linked with the Tottenham vacancy previously, it seems only a matter of time before Potter is given an opportunity at one of the country’s biggest clubs and there can be little doubting Everton’s stature dwarfs that of Brighton.
However, the key to Potter’s success at the Amex Stadium has been continuity and he may well see the Merseysiders’ hunt for a sixth boss in six years as a major red flag.
Frank Lampard
One man who is very keen to get back on the touchlines of the Premier League is ex-Chelsea boss Frank Lampard.
Axed by his beloved Blues 12 months ago, the 43-year-old former midfielder appeared certain to land the Norwich job in November before the Canaries moved for Dean Smith at the last minute instead.
Lampard’s managerial career to date has been mixed, narrowly failing to get Derby promoted before guiding Chelsea to an FA Cup final but ultimately coming up short in his time at Stamford Bridge.
Unquestionably one of the great players of his generation, Lampard would certainly command respect in the Toffees dressing room and has shown a penchant for working with young, homegrown talent.
Should he opt to throw his hat in the ring, his glamorous profile may give him an edge with Everton’s decision-makers — do not rule the former Three Lions star out of the running.
