Although Everton may not have claimed the silverware that Bill Kenwright craved during his time as Chairman, his period overseeing his boyhood club is one littered with the occasional moment of enjoyment, although not enough to quell protests in recent years.
With the 78-year-old having now passed away, those frustrations are now likely set to dissipate, with frustration morphing into sadness as Evertonians and the football world rush to mourn the loss of a key figure.
He can be proud of a fine 24-year spell involved with his boyhood club, with some standout moments detailing the closest they came to success.
As such, here are the top five signings of Kenwright’s reign at Goodison Park…
5. Kevin Campbell
Many of these names could easily be interchanged given their respective hero status, but few stood up like super Kevin Campbell amidst their 1999 relegation troubles.
Signed for just £3m, the hulking markman would first prove his worth with a loan spell that saved them from the drop, scoring nine in eight Premier League games and cementing his legacy.
The rapport he has since built with Evertonians in the years following has only strengthened such a notion.
4. Dominic Calvert-Lewin
It is a testament to the immense recruitment of the time that Dominic Calvert-Lewin was snagged for half of what they paid for Campbell, bringing in the young striker for just £1.5m from Sheffield United in 2016.
Although injuries have plagued his recent campaigns, there is every chance that the 26-year-old will leave Goodison Park as their all-time top scorer in the Premier League, having scored 21 goals across all competitions during the 2020/21 term as a current career-high.
3. Seamus Coleman
Whilst these first two marked major bargains for the club, English football would be hard-pressed to find a greater value-for-money acquisition than Everton’s 2009 signing of Seamus Coleman.
Brought in for just £60k, the Irishman has gone on to feature 409 times for the Toffees, although he attests he is far from a legend. Many Evertonians would likely disagree with such a notion, with the peak of his career arguably coming during a stellar 2013/14 campaign where he linked up with another starring full-back…
2. Tim Cahill
But, before that, there is a certain Australian marksman who too is widely regarded as a legend on Merseyside, with Tim Cahill loved by all, and feared by corner flags.
Despite standing at just 5 foot 10, the former Millwall man had an almighty leap that helped him score 68 times for the club, but was more revered by his unrelenting work rate and genuine passion for the club.
1. Leighton Baines
However, few embody Everton like Leighton Baines, who was signed from Wigan Athletic for £6m.
Few could possibly have predicted just how influential the left-back would grow to be, finishing his career as the full-back with the second-most goals in Premier League history, and having only seen his place at the top of the assist list recently stolen by Liverpool pair Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Although he would go his career without a trophy, there are few disputes that he remains an Everton legend, purchased under Kenwright’s keen and watchful eye back in 2007.
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