Everton have gone through several managers over the last decade.
The Toffees were constantly chopping and changing in the dugout during Farhad Moshiri’s eight-year reign.
Moshiri was pretty ruthless and wouldn’t given managers very long to implement their philosophy if it didn’t breed short-term results.
Such is why Marco Silva was sacked at the end of 2019, which now looks like a major error given his success at Fulham.
However, Everton’s former sporting director Marcel Brands, speaking last year, revealed that he was close to appointing a very highly regarded coach as Silva’s successor.
Marcel Brands almost appointed Mikel Arteta in 2019
Speaking to Dutch outlet SoccerNews, as per Sport Witness, Marcel Brands revealed that he was on the verge of appointing Mikel Arteta after sacking Marco Silva.
“I moved heaven and earth to bring Arteta to Everton,” the former chief explained.
“He is also a former player of course. I spent the entire evening at his house and I saw him as the ideal man for us.
“I immediately saw a top trainer. At the time he was still an assistant to Pep Guardiola and he was busy with other things. But you saw that he was becoming a top trainer. I only heard positive things.
“Also within the club Everton. Then I was at his house to sound him out and I got so excited. So well prepared, and that passion came out everywhere. His mouth, his nose and his ears. I thought this is the trainer, but for the long term.”
Arteta ended up joining Arsenal instead
Arteta ended up snubbing Everton for Arsenal, who put him on a three-and-a-half-year deal at the Emirates.
The Spaniard has completely transformed the Gunners, making them genuine title challengers for the last couple of seasons.
Whilst he’s come up short, Arteta is widely regarded as a ‘world class’ manager and many feel it won’t be long until he finally wins a league title.
Arsenal remain in the Champions League and play PSV this evening in the last 16 – they currently lead the tie 7-1 on aggregate.
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