If a week is said to be a long time in politics, a year can seem a lifetime in football and 12 months on from Carlo Ancelotti’s unveiling at Real Madrid, Everton now find themselves in a very different position under Frank Lampard. Despite all the trials and tribulations over the intervening period, including the deeply misguided and almost disastrous appointment of Rafael Benitez that plunged the Blues into a relegation battle and brought months of sleepless nights for many, the club and its long-suffering supporters have – just about – come out the other side and while there are still plenty of challenges ahead, can still look towards the potential of a brighter future.
Forward thinking rather than reflecting on the past would seem to be the key for Everton. Too often it seems, owner Farhad Moshiri, for all his ambition and financial generosity, has reflected on days gone by when it came to his appointments.
Before the Monaco-based businessman took control of the Blues in 2016, a 51-year-old Howard Kendall in 1997, when embarking on his third stint in charge, was the oldest man to be appointed Everton manager (he was also the youngest at 35 when starting his first spell). Mr Moshiri broke that record straight away by bringing in Ronald Koeman, 53, but like US Presidents of late, the age of Blues bosses started to go up from that point with Sam Allardyce (63), Ancelotti (60) and Benitez (61) all eligible for their free bus pass at the time of their arrival.
