Everton have controversially appointed Rafa Benitez as their new manager, after being linked with Rangers boss Steven Gerrard.
Earlier this month, The Athletic reported that the Premier League club had Gerrard on a shortlist of candidates to replace Carlo Ancelotti after the Italian left Goodison Park to take over at Real Madrid.
The link was laughed off by Rangers fans and many others across the footballing world, given the Gers boss’s legendary status at Everton’s fiercest rivals, Liverpool.
Predictably, nothing further came out of the reported interest, but the Toffees have made an appointment which is almost as controversial as bringing in Gerrard would have been.
That’s as they’ve gone for former Liverpool manager, Benitez.
The respected Spaniard was also on the shortlist of candidates provided by The Athletic at the beginning of the month, but at that time, plenty also dismissed the idea that he might take the job.
Yet, after a relatively quick negotiation process, he was confirmed as Everton’s new boss on Wednesday afternoon.
“I have been in Madrid, Naples, Valencia, Tenerife, Extremadura and Liverpool,” said Benitez when asked about controversially labelling Everton a ‘small club’ in 2007 whilst in charge of the Reds [Evertonfc.com].
“Every single club I was there, I was fighting for them. If you analyse things in the context, what you are expecting from your manager is to fight for your club, and I will do that.”
Although Rangers fans never really believed there was a chance of Gerrard heading to Everton, one of the several Premier League vacancies he’s been linked with has now officially been filled.
Crystal Palace and Tottenham remain managerless but there’s a confidence that the 41-year-old – who is contracted to Rangers until 2024 – will be at Ibrox for another season at the very least.
Gerrard is currently trying to strengthen his squad for a title defence and the Gers have reportedly tabled a multi-million-pound bid for player likened to a top Premier League star.
