Everton’s reported interest in Ralph Hasenhuttl has Simon Jordan baffled with the Austrian sacked by rival Premier League strugglers Southampton before the Qatar World Cup, speaking to talkSPORT (26 January, 11.30am).
There is a lot to like about Hasenhuttl.
The 55-year-old is a straight-talking, bullish operator. A man who turned RB Leipzig into Bundesliga title challengers in Germany before keeping Southampton out of the relegation zone for four straight seasons, claiming iconic wins over Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool along the way.
On the other hand, Hasenhuttl bit the bullet following a seven defeats in 11 Premier League games in November; a humiliating 4-1 home defeat by Newcastle United the final straw. This is not only first time the Austrian’s Saints side went on a long, spiralling losing run either.
Under Hasenhuttl, Southampton found themselves on the wrong end of 9-0 scorelines twice. What’s more, only two out of 92 clubs in England’s top five divisions accumulated fewer points than Southampton across the whole of 2022.
Who will replace Frank Lampard as Everton manager?
Hasenhuttl’s potential return to the Premier League stage with second-bottom Everton, then, is likely to divide opinion; former Crystal Palace owner Jordan nailing his colours to one particular mast.
“Absolutely not,” Jordan said when quizzed on whether Everton should consider handing the former Ingolstadt coach a fresh stab at English football.
According to Sky Sports, Hasenhuttl remains a ‘serious contender’ to take over from Frank Lampard at Goodison Park. His Premier League experience reportedly appeals to under-fire owner Farhad Moshiri.
Jordan, however, feels that there is one outstanding candidate. A man who constructed a team far greater than the sum of it’s parts; continually performing above expectations despite operating on a limited budget.
“I think he is the right man for the job,” Jordan says of former Burnley boss Sean Dyche. “He is a better fit than (Marcelo) Bielsa. I know people who worship at the temple of Bielsa will have outrage at that.
“(But) Sean will not have any linguistic challenges. There are players at Everton who have played under him previously (Michael Keane and Dwight McNeil). A style of play which will be accepted to make Everton more difficult to beat.
“Sean is underrated.”
Leeds legend Bielsa has held talks with The Toffees. According to the Daily Mail, however, the 67-year-old Argentine has concerns about the make-up of Everton’s squad.
Nuno Espirito Santo, meanwhile, is distancing himself from speculation.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
