Former Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez completed a controversial, and historic, move to his old club's local rivals on Wednesday after Everton confirmed the Spaniard's appointment on a three-year contract.
Benitez will officially take charge of the Everton squad on Monday when the players return to begin pre-season training at the club's training base. The Spaniard, who was most recently employed in China with Dalian Professional, replaces Carlo Ancelotti following the Italian's return to Real Madrid for a second spell at the Bernabeu.
“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.”
Benitez, 61, has had a long and largely successful managerial career, leading Valencia to two La Liga titles and the Uefa Cup and winning the Fifa Club World Cup with Inter Milan in 2010. During previous spells in England, the Spaniard helped Chelsea clinch the Europa League in 2013 while in interim charge and guided Newcastle United to immediate promotion to the Premier League having endured relegation the previous campaign.
However, Benitez is best known for his six-year stint at Liverpool - Everton's fiercest rivals - between 2004 and 2010, during which time the Spaniard led the Reds to the Uefa Champions League title in his first season, an FA Cup the following year, and transformed the team into Premier League title challengers.
Benitez's appointment makes him the only manager since William Edward Barclay, in the 1890s, to manage both Liverpool and Everton. Barclay was part of the original Everton and opted to take charge of the breakaway Liverpool.
“Rafa impressed us greatly with his knowledge and experience but, above all, the passion and hunger he showed to join our Club," Everton owner Farhad Moshiri said in a statement.
“We are appointing Rafa because we believe he will bring success to our club and to Evertonians. To put it simply - we need to be competing at the top-end of the league and to be winning trophies. Rafa is a proven winner with huge experience in coaching internationally and we have secured the best man to achieve that for us.”
Benitez will take charge of an Everton side who finished 10th in the Premier League last season, while the club have not competed in European competition since qualifying for the Europa League in 2017.
“Rafa Benitez is joining Everton Football Club at an exciting time," Everton chairman Bill Kenwright said. "On behalf of the Board of Directors I wish him well in achieving success for our football club - success our supporters long for and deserve.”
