Everton may announce the appointment of former Liverpool, Chelsea and Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez as their new boss in the next few days after agreeing a deal with the Spaniard to replace the late Carlo Ancelotti at Goodison Park.
Ancelotti left the club at the end of last season when he was offered the chance to return to Real Madrid for a second enchantment at the Bernabeu and leave Toffees behind.
Positive talks have taken place between Everton and Benitez throughout June and despite his six-year partnership with city rivals Liverpool between 2004 and 2010, he is set to take the job.
According to Sky Sports, agreements have been reached on “key aspects” of a proposed contract and Benitez is expected to put the pen to paper in the next few days, after which an official announcement from the club is expected to follow soon.
Everton have agreed a deal with Benitez / James Williamson – AMA / Getty Images
Everton had also been in contact with ex-Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo, but the ongoing interest in Benitez was part of the reason why the Portuguese were not offered the job in the end.
Everton will be Benitez’s fourth Premier League club and Toffees will benefit immensely from his vast experience and proven record in England, although some fans continue to worry about the appointment given his time spent at Stanley Park at Anfield.
Benitez guided Liverpool to Champions League glory in his first season at the club in 2004/05. He took them to another final in 2007 and oversaw a serious Premier League challenge in 2008/09 that drove any champions Manchester United to the thread.
The former Valencia boss – the only coach other than Diego Simeone to win La Liga with a club other than Real Madrid or Barcelona since 2000 – later returned to England as an initially unpopular temporary coach at Chelsea and won the Europa League in 2013.
Benitez won Champions League with Liverpool 2005 / Etsuo Hara / Getty Images
Benitez spent two years in Napoli after that, before getting the chance to coach Real Madrid in 2015, the club where he started his own playing career in his youth. Ironically, it was Ancelotti who succeeded in the Bernabeu after the Italian was fired.
Benitez joined a declining Newcastle in March 2016. He could not steer the club from relegation but held on and secured an immediate promotion by winning the championship next season. The Magpies then finished ten in their first year back in top flight.
His last job was in charge of Dalian Professional in the Chinese Super League.
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