Everton board has sacked their manager Rafael Benitez after an emergency meeting following their 2-1 league defeat against bottom-placed Norwich City. This was their 10th defeat from the opening 19 Premier League matches this season. The Toffees have won just once in their last thirteen league matches and yesterday’s unexpected defeat was the final nail in the coffin for Benitez. Everton are placed in 15th position in the Premier League table with just 19 points from the opening 19 matches.
The 61-year-old Spanish coach made the headline when he joined Everton last year. Benitez is most famous for his managerial stint with Everton’s bitter rivals Liverpool, whom he managed for 7 years(2004-2010). Benitez was still a fan favorite after his Anfield departure as he was key in keeping Steven Gerrard at Liverpool in 2004 and winning the Champions League trophy next year. But his popularity among the Reds fans slipped significantly after he joined Everton.
Benitez had a tough task convincing Everton fans to believe in him as back in 2007 he described them as ‘a small club’. Fans protested against the board when they hired the former Liverpool legend and that never stopped during Spaniard’s six-and-a-half months at Goodison Park. Benitez managed 22 games at Everton where he won just 7, drew 5, and lost 10 matches.
The Everton fan who invaded the pitch to try and make his way to Rafa Benitez… ?
? @NickMiller79 #EFC #NOREVE pic.twitter.com/JtP4Cvvyen
— The Sack Race (@thesackrace) January 15, 2022
In his last match against Norwich City yesterday, an Everton fan invaded the pitch to confront him. This was the last sign for both Benitez and the club to mutually depart before it’s too late. Club put a long statement regarding this on their official website, surprisingly there was no mention of thanking him for his services.
”Everton Football Club can confirm the departure of Rafael Benitez as First Team manager. Benitez, who joined Everton in June 2021, has left the Club with immediate effect. An update on a permanent replacement will be made in due course.”
Wayne Rooney And Duncan Ferguson Favorite To Takeover At Everton?
Everton have appointed assistant manager Duncan Ferguson as an interim head coach and former full-back Leighton Baines as an assistant coach until they find a new permanent manager. It has been reported that Ferguson will be given a chance to prove himself at Goodison Park for the next few weeks. Ferguson has played more than a hundred league matches for Everton during his playing career(1994-1998) and joined the backroom staff in 2019 as interim assistant manager to Carlo Ancelotti.
But the former England captain Wayne Rooney is currently the Bookmakers’ favorite to be the next Everton manager. Wayne Rooney started his career at Everton at the age of 9, made his senior debut in 2002 at the age of 16, and left for Manchester United in 2004. Rooney went on to become a record goalscorer for both Manchester United and the England national team and won every possible trophy during his exceptional career.
Rooney retired last season with Championship side Derby County and continued his football career as a manager with the Rams. He has managed 65 matches with 18 wins, 20 draws, and 27 losses for Derby County and now is tipped for a Premier League return as a manager of Merseyside Everton.