Rafael Benitez: Everton set to appoint former Liverpool manager as Carlo Ancelotti's replacement

Posted Sunday, June 27, 2021 by Skysports.com

Benitez expected to sign deal as Everton's new manager in the next few days, with Toffees hoping to confirm his arrival early next week; Spaniard spent six years at Everton's rivals Liverpool, winning the Champions League and FA Cup

Rafael Benitez is set to be appointed as Everton's new manager next week after the former Liverpool boss agreed key aspects of his contract with the club.

The Spaniard is expected to sign his new contract in the next few days, with the club provisionally planning to confirm his arrival on Tuesday.

The 61-year-old will become the Toffees' fifth permanent manager in as many years and will replace Carlo Ancelotti, who left Goodison Park to return to Real Madrid earlier this month.

Benitez's arrival will come 11 years after he left Anfield, where he spent six years as Liverpool manager, winning the Champions League and FA Cup.

The former Newcastle and Real Madrid manager was also Chelsea's interim boss for the majority of the 2012/13 season, winning the Europa League, while he coached at St James' Park for more than three years before leaving at the end of the 2018/19 campaign.

Benitez has also managed Inter Milan and Napoli, where he won the Coppa Italia, since his time with Liverpool and has been out of work since leaving Chinese club Dalian Pro. Before moving to Anfield, he led Valencia to the La Liga title in 2002 and 2004.

Rafael Benitez: Everton set to appoint former Liverpool manager as Carlo Ancelotti's replacement
Carlo Ancelotti returned to Real Madrid as Zinedine Zidane's successor this month

Everton are understood to have considered up to eight candidates before deciding on Benitez, whose potential appointment has angered a section of the club's support due to his Liverpool links.

The club held talks with former Wolves coach Nuno Espirito Santo and had an interest in their former manager David Moyes.

However, Nuno is now in talks with Tottenham over finally ending their long search for a new boss, while Moyes signed a new three-year deal with West Ham.

Belgium boss Roberto Martinez - another ex-Toffees manager - current Everton assistant Duncan Ferguson, Lille's Ligue 1 title-winning coach Christophe Galtier and Eddie Howe were also on their shortlist.

They have been searching for a successor for Ancelotti since the start of June after the Italian opted to re-join Real Madrid as Zinedine Zidane's successor.

The 62-year-old previously coached Real between 2013 and 2015, and won the Champions League and Copa del Rey during his time at the Bernabeu.

Everton's 2021-22 campaign begins at home to Southampton, with the first round of fixtures scheduled to take place on the weekend of August 14-15.