Agency Report

Rafa Benitez is the new manager of Everton after agreeing a three-year deal to reshape the club’s fortunes.

It is a historic appointment by Farhad Moshiri, Everton’s major shareholder, as Benitez becomes the first man to have managed both Liverpool and Everton since William Edward Barclay in the 1890s.

The Spaniard has had numerous meetings with Moshiri, including one in Italy last week, and has now finalised a deal to become Carlo Ancelotti’s successor.

There has been no official announcement by the club but that will happen on Wednesday.

Benitez, a manager who has both the Champions League and Europa League on his CV, has been working in the background since he first spoke to the Iranian billionaire three weeks ago. He will be joined by his long-time ally, Paco De Miguel, who will become Everton’s fitness coach.

Benitez has always tended to appoint assistant managers who had connections with a club – Sammy Lee worked with him at Liverpool, Bolo Zenden went in alongside him at Chelsea – and it is his intention to talk to Duncan Ferguson about staying on.

Ferguson worked alongside Carlo Ancelotti and was keen to be considered for the role of permanent manager after the Italian left last month.

But, after much deliberation, the process is now almost at a conclusion and Benitez will become Moshiri’s fifth appointment in five years.