Rafa Benitez Expecting Offer From Everton To Become New Manager

The former Liverpool manager looks like he could be made Everton manager very soon

Rafa Benitez is expecting an offer from Everton to become their next manager after positive talks with the club over the last week. The former Liverpool boss could make the controversial switch as early as next week. 

Benitez has held several rounds of talks with Everton owner Farhad Moshiri as well as other high ranking officials at the club. Former Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santos has also been in talks with Everton, but according to Paul Joyce of The Times, Rafa Benitez is the front runner ahead of the Portuguese coach.

The news will come as a shock to many Liverpool fans who believed the former Reds boss was Liverpool through and through and that taking over Everton would be seen as a form of betrayal.

The Spanish coach has won honours in England, Spain and Italy. He most famously won the Champions League with Liverpool in a dramatic final against AC Milan in 2005 as well as an FA Cup with the Reds the following season. 

Benitez also enjoyed a brief spell at Chelsea, winning the Europa League. His most recent spell in England resulted in him winning the Championship with Newcastle and getting the club promoted back to the Premier League. 

Carlo Ancelotti controversially left the Blues at the end of last season before returning to Real Madrid. The appointment of Benitez would lead Everton fans to believe the club want to pursue silverware once again immediately rather than begin another long term project.

Everton fans have unsurprisingly not taken the news of the Spanish coach being linked with the club well. Although a serial winner in the past, many fans will not see Benitez as a step up from Ancelotti. 

The Italian coach struggled to give Everton that lift they needed during his tenure and fans might be worried their potential new manager might suffer the same faith. 

Although the former Liverpool legend’s switch to the Blue end of Merseyside is seen as a shock, there will be fans who understand Benitez desire to return to the Premier League. The Spaniard still holds Liverpool and their fans close to his heart and is still a great ambassador for the club. 

In the short term, this could be a great appointment for Everton.