Everton Football Club can confirm the departure of Rafael Benitez as first team manager, tweeted Everton via its official handle @Everton to confirm the sacking of Rafa Benitez.
Everton Football Club can confirm the departure of Rafael Benitez as first team manager.
— Everton (@Everton) January 16, 2022
The Toffees have decided to make a change in the dugout following their 10th loss of the season, which came as a 2-1 defeat to relegation battling Norwich FC on Saturday.
Benitez came in to replace Carlo Ancellotti in Goodison Park, despite having previously managed Liverpool FC, arch-rivals of Everton FC.
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The Toffees began the 2021-22 campaign strongly under the Spaniard but quickly lost form amid the loss of a number of key players to injuries and positive Covid-19 tests, with a 2-1 defeat to relegation battling Norwich proving to be the last straw for an expectant board.
Everton picked up 13 points from their opening six Premier League games under Benitez to rise to fifth in the table, but then embarked on an eight-match winless run that included humiliating losses at home to Watford and Liverpool.
A 2-1 home win over Arsenal and a 1-1 draw with Chelsea at the start of December granted Benitez a temporary reprieve, but the Toffees went on to lose to Crystal Palace and Brighton before reaching a new low at Norwich this weekend.
Everton fans ultimately never warmed to Benitez, and he leaves with a record of seven wins, 11 draws and four losses in the Premier League, while also having overseen their surprise Carabao Cup third-round loss to QPR.
Confirming the sacking of Benitez in a statement, Everton stated;
Everton Football Club can confirm the departure of Rafael Benitez as first-team manager.
Benitez, who joined Everton in June 2021, has left the club with immediate effect.
An update on a permanent replacement will be made in due course.
Nnamdi Maduakor is a Writer, Investor and Entrepreneur
