It was September 2021 and things were looking rosy for Everton Women. Backed by a strong pre-season under the tutelage of Willy Kirk, which included dominant wins over fellow Women’s Super League [WSL] side Brighton & Hove Albion and future Scottish Women’s Premier League champions Rangers, optimism was abounds ahead of the new WSL season.
However, 22 miserable games, and two sacked managers later, it was not Everton’s year. Long-serving manager Kirk was fired in October after winning two and losing three of their opening five WSL games, albeit the three defeats were against Man City, Chelsea and Arsenal - the WSL’s three dominant sides.
Champions League-winning manager Jean-Luc Vasseur and his impressive CV came and went within just six WSL games with players reportedly unhappy with his training methods. Chris Roberts and Claire Ditchburn were appointed as interim managers until the end of the campaign and navigated the Blues to 10th place and survival.
