Frank Lampard: Everton appoint ex-Chelsea manager to replace Rafael Benitez
- Published
- comments
It's an honour to manage Everton - Lampard
Former England midfielder Frank Lampard has been appointed Everton manager on a two-and-a-half-year deal.
The 43-year-old replaces Rafael Benitez, who was sacked earlier this month after one win in 13 games.
It is Lampard's first job since he was sacked by Chelsea a year ago with Thomas Tuchel taking his role.
"It is a huge honour for me to represent and manage a club with the size and tradition of Everton," said Lampard.
"I'm very hungry to get started."
Lampard's first match in charge will be Saturday's FA Cup fourth-round tie against Brentford at Goodison Park.
His first signing at Everton is expected to be Manchester United midfielder Donny van de Beek, who is set to join the Toffees on loan for the rest of the season.
Former Chelsea and Manchester City player Lampard, who won 106 caps for England, is tasked with keeping Everton in the top-flight as the club are 16th and just four points above the relegation zone.
Lampard said he felt the "passion and ambition" of owner Farhad Moshiri, chairman Bill Kenwright and the Everton board in talks over the role.
Frank Lampard: Watch his best Premier League goals for Chelsea
"I hope they felt my ambition and how hard I want to work to bring it together," he added.
"You can feel the passion Everton fans have for their club - that will be hugely important.
"As a team - the competitive level that the Premier League brings and the position we are in the table - we certainly need that. It's a two-way thing.
"Everton is a unique club in that you can really understand what the fans want to see. The first thing they want is fight and desire and that must always be our baseline.
"My first message to the players will be that we have to do this together. We'll try to do our job and I know the fans will be there backing us."
Lampard was one of three candidates interviewed for the managerial position with Vitor Pereira and interim boss Duncan Ferguson also up for the role.
Derby manager and former Everton and Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney confirmed he was also asked about the job but he turned it down.
Ferguson, who was assistant manager under Benitez, and goalkeeper coach Alan Kelly will stay on as part of Lampard's backroom staff.
Joe Edwards has joined as assistant manager, with Paul Clement as first team coach and Chris Jones as first team coach and head of performance.
Lampard was fired by Chelsea after 18 months in charge. In his first year in the position he led the club to a fourth place league finish and the FA Cup final.
But a tough spell in his second season, featuring five league defeats in eight games, saw him dismissed by the Blues.
Before taking over at Chelsea he was at Derby for a season. He led them to the Championship play-off final but they lost to Aston Villa.
Moshiri calls for patience and defends recruitment process
Moshiri (right) with Lampard and Everton chairman Bill Kenwright (left)
Moshiri said Lampard will give Everton an "immediate boost" but admitted the fans - and himself - "should be more patient".
"The biggest thing for us, for me, for Bill [Kenwright], for all parts of this great and beautiful club, is to get behind this manager," said Moshiri.
"Let's unite behind the team, give the team the 12th man and start moving up the table.
"Our future us bright. We just need to be united. Maybe together, me and the fans should be more patient - I am also impatient."
Moshiri also defended the club's recruitment process after criticism that it lacked direction, highlighting the roles of Everton heroes Graeme Sharp and Tim Cahill, while also offering his support to Kenwright following calls from fans during the defeat by Aston Villa for the chairman to leave.
"We ensured a lot of expertise went into it," he said.
"We had Graeme Sharp, with his vast football experience, and our board. Tim Cahill was advising me personally and attending all the interviews. He did very diligent, serious work."
On Kenwright, Moshiri added: "Our chairman is very important. We are keeping the chairman as long as we can.
"He manfully fulfils his functions and I really appreciate what the chairman does."
Our coverage of Everton is bigger and better than ever before - here's everything you need to know to make sure you never miss a moment
