Frank Lampard was charged with bringing in a new era at Everton after his appointment as the club’s new manager was finally confirmed.
The former Chelsea boss held a final round of talks with his advisors at the London offices of Chairman Bill Kenwright over the weekend, where he signed a deal that runs to June 2024; he will meet his new players at Finch Farm, the club’s training base.
Lampard, who will immediately have his squad bolstered by the arrival on loan of Donny van de Beek from Manchester United, will assemble a backroom staff that includes the highly-regarded Joe Edwards – with whom he worked at Chelsea – and Chris Jones.
Everton have completed the appointment of Frank Lampard (above) as their new manager
There were reports over the last 48 hours that Steve Holland – Gareth Southgate’s number two – could come to assist Lampard but the Football Association made it clear that was not the case and it now seems certain an offer will be made, instead, to former Derby boss Paul Clement.
Clement, who most recently managed at Cercle Brugge, was a long-serving assistant to Carlo Ancelotti, spending time with him at Real Madrid and Paris St Germain, and will bring a wealth of experience; he has a reputation for innovative coaching sessions.
The overhaul behind the scenes means it is unlikely there will be a place for club stalwart Duncan Ferguson, who was also interviewed to be Rafa Benitez’s successor and had been acting as caretaker while the torturous search for a new manager progressed.
Everton’s majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri had also considered appointing Vitor Pereira, the Portuguese coach who was available after being sacked by Fenerbahce, but in the end they have chosen to go with Lampard, who has been waiting for the right opportunity since last January.
One thing that cannot be said is that Lampard has taken on an easy challenge. This, in many respects, is the most demanding task he has faced in his career and he should be under no illusion that he is walking into what is essentially a relegation battle.
It will test him immediately as, after his first game against Brentford in the FA Cup on Saturday, Everton face games against Newcastle – at St James’ Park – and at home to Leeds that they simply dare not lose. They have only won once in 13 games and confidence levels have plummeted.
Chelsea legend Lampard has penned a two-and-a-half year deal to take charge on Merseyside
There is a shortage of quality in Everton’s squad though the arrival of van de Beek, who – somewhat incredibly – only started four Premier League games in 18 months for Manchester United following a £40million move from Ajax, will potentially add some class and vision.
Transfer deadline day is often frenetic at Goodison Park and the club will aim to be busy right up to the close of business – though they have reached the limit of domestic loans for this window, having also taken Anwar El-Ghazi from Aston Villa two weeks ago.
Whatever transfer business takes place, it is clear Lampard is anxious to get started. He has been itching for this chance and on December 2, during an interview with Gary Neville on The Overlap – a show on YouTube – he explained what he was looking for from a prospective new employer.
‘I’m ready to work and I’m excited,’ he said. ‘The job will be there for a reason – bad results or whatever. It just needs to feel right. It was a Fergie quote, wasn’t it? Pick the owner, not the club. I understand what that means. You want to go into something that feels positive.’
There is hope the official announcement from the struggling club may even happen tonight
But revisiting those words again, as we await the formal announcement of the two-and-a-half year contract he has signed at Goodison Park, a couple of things leap out – notably the references to “picking an owner” and wanting to feel positivity.
Lampard, 43, would have been made to feel a million dollars by Kenwright, during talks at his offices in Little Venice. Kenwright’s base is a shrine to the club he loves and it has been used to conclude many significant deals down the years.
Kenwright, however, is no longer the owner and Moshiri’s record for hiring and firing – Lampard is his sixth appointment in less than six years – makes Roman Abramovich seem tolerant and patient. The Iranian’s scattergun approach to affairs has chipped away at this proud club’s image.
Lampard will be boosted by the arrival of Donny van de Beek on loan from Manchester United
Lampard will be tasked with bringing unity to a club that has been riven with schisms over the last six years and supporters will be desperate for him to bring some energy and freshness and there should be an initial bounce provided by a man who won every honour in club football.
It is imperative, though, that the bounce has substance. Fans, who have protested against the board in recent weeks and made clear their feelings about Moshiri’s desire to want to pick Pereira, have become worn down by the constant chopping and changing.
They want a reason to feel enthusiastic about their team once again; before Lampard can have any grand plans of challenging for Europe and winning silverware, bringing back that absent sense of pride is his first task.
