Two Premier League clubs appointed new managers on Wednesday (Thursday NZT), with Rafa Benitez joining Everton and Nuno Espirito Santo hired by Tottenham Hotspur.
Everton said Benitez signed a three-year contract with his former long-time club Liverpool’s local rivals.
The Spanish coach will take charge of his fourth English top-flight team – after Liverpool, Chelsea and Newcastle – and is back in work five months after leaving Chinese club Dalian Professional because of family reasons during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“I am delighted to be joining Everton. Throughout this process I have been greatly impressed by the ambition shown by the senior representatives at the club and their desire to bring success to this historic club,” Benitez said.
“I believe this is a club that is going places. I’m determined to play a big part in helping this great club achieve its ambitions.”
Everton turned to the 61-year-old Benitez following the unexpected departure this month of Carlo Ancelotti, who joined Real Madrid after 18 months at Goodison Park.
It will go down as a slightly controversial appointment given Benitez’s close ties with Liverpool, who he managed from 2004-10.
Benitez led Liverpool to the Champions League title in 2005 with the “Miracle of Istanbul” in the final against AC Milan, where Liverpool won after trailing 3-0 at halftime.
Benitez, whose family has continued to live in Merseyside, is an experienced, well-travelled and well-respected coach having also been in charge of leading teams like Real Madrid, Napoli, Inter Milan and Valencia.
