Frank Lampard arrived at Everton late in a January transfer window with the club in disarray. He leaves, 12 months later, in similar circumstances.
Along with a fanbase rejuvenated by the unexpectedly precious bond he formed with them, Lampard steered Everton away from relegation last season, ending in those remarkable scenes at Goodison Park as supporters streamed onto the pitch to celebrate a survival that had seemed unlikely weeks earlier.
But he did not have enough miracles to save a broken club and the problems he inherited were simply too severe for him to overcome with the limited resources at his disposal. One win and 11 defeats across the last 14 matches tells the story of a manager who could not survive. He must take responsibility for his role as Everton now languish in the bottom three. But he is only partly to blame for his downfall.
