Roberto Martinez is Everton’s first choice to replace Rafa Benitez as coach

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Everton are looking for another new manager under Farhad Moshiri after ending Rafa Benitez’s tumultuous six-month reign.

Roberto Martinez is the first choice for Everton to be the next manager

Roberto Martinez is the first-choice among the Everton board of directors to replace Rafa Benitez after his turbulent six-month tenure at Goodison Park came to an end.

Benitez, who fell out with the club’s chief medical officer Woody and sacked football director Marcel Brands in a power struggle on Merseyside, before also squabbling and selling fan favorite Lucas Digne, on Sunday.

His dismissal came after board members urged owner Farhad Moshiri to sack the Spaniard after a disastrous streak of a one-of-13 win culminated in Saturday’s 2-1 loss to Norwich City.

The dreary show at Carrow Road was the last straw for club chiefs, many of whom opposed Benitez’s appointment in the summer.

Finally, they were able to convince Moshiri – who has backed Benitez with £30m in recent weeks and agreed to sell Digne to Aston Villa – that Benitez’s controversial and unpopular reign must come to an end.

The former Real Madrid and Liverpool coach posted an emotional farewell message on his website on Sunday night, although he continued to believe he was going to turn things around.

Rafa Benitez breaks silence over Everton sacking and ‘duty scale’ for incoming Liverpool boss teased Liverpool fans with salt in the wound as Everton sacked Rafa Benitez.

“We knew it wasn’t going to be easy, and that it was a huge challenge, both emotionally and sportingly,” Benitez said. “My love for this city, for Merseyside and its people, made me accept the challenge, but only when you’re inside realize the scale of the task.”

“From day one, the staff and I worked as we always do, with complete commitment and dedication, not only had to deliver results, but also had to win people’s hearts. However, the financial situation and then the ensuing injuries made things even more difficult.

“I’m convinced we would have been better once the injured players came back and with the new signings coming in.

“The road to success is not easy and unfortunately, nowadays in football there is a search for instant results and there is always less and less patience; unfortunately, circumstances have determined the results and it will not be possible to continue this project.”

Norwich was the end of the road for Rafa

picture:

Work photos via Reuters)

And now Iranian billionaire Moshiri is once again looking for another new manager, and the list is headed by Martinez, the former president of Tovis.

The Belgium coach is highly admired on the board, having spent three years in his position previously at Goodison, leading the team to fifth place in his first season and eleventh in season two; He was sacked, amid fan protests, with one match remaining from the 2015-16 season, with the team finishing 12th in the Premier League.

Mirror Football understands that the Belgian Football Association has been contacted about a move to allow Martinez to return to the Premier League… for perhaps as little as £2m.

During his time as Belgium coach – and technical director of the country’s football association – the Red Devils climbed to number one in the FIFA world rankings, and while he has made no secret of his desire to return to the Premier League at some point, whether he will do so. Be prepared to do it just 10 months before the World Cup which is another question.

The fee for Roberto Martinez’s release clause has emerged as Everton seek to replace Rafa Benitez in the Premier League accused of favouritism by clubs angry over Arsenal’s controversial decision.

If Martinez is against getting out of Belgium, Wayne Rooney has been raised as another possibility after working with Derby County, which drove him away from the championship table this weekend – despite the Rams’ 21-point deduction this season.

Andy Cole, the former Manchester United striker, believes Rooney’s derby achievements prove he can turn things around at his old club.

“It’s his childhood club and anything is possible in football these days,” Cole told Sky Sports News.

“If Wayne goes there, if you look at what he’s doing in Derby right now, he’s working miracles.

“I wouldn’t call it a small budget because it’s not, the results he’s getting – whatever he’s doing with the backroom staff and the players, they’re all buying it, so if he’s given the chance, there’s no doubt he’ll be able to do it there too.”

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