Ben Ransom has claimed that ‘lots of people’ at Everton are still ‘huge fans’ of Roberto Martinez following the sacking of Rafa Benitez, as he told Sky Sports News on Sunday afternoon.
The Sky reporter added that the names being mentioned to replace Benitez as Everton’s next manager are Wayne Rooney, Frank Lampard and Martinez.
Two of those are currently in jobs – Rooney at Everton, whilst Martinez is preparing Belgium for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, as Lampard is a free agent and he hasn’t been in a job since being sacked by Chelsea in 2021.
Added with that, Rooney is a boyhood Evertonian, whilst Martinez has already held the post on Merseyside.
Perhaps going down the Martinez route would be seen as a mistake given that he has already been sacked by the club.
But it seems as though he is still held in high regard and his name is swirling around as Everton look for a new coach.
“Names that are being mentioned today,” said Ransom. “Wayne Rooney has been mentioned given his perceived success at Derby in very difficult circumstances.
“Frank Lampard’s name is obviously mentioned when a Premier League job comes around given that he had that success at Derby and that experience at Chelsea.
“Here at Everton, lots of people here are still huge fans of Roberto Martinez. He is regarded, by many, as having a very successful period when he was here as manager.
“Obviously, he is with Belgium, at the moment. He was in contention potentially for a return in the summer when Benitez did get the job.”
It didn’t help Everton’s cause when Carlo Ancelotti left in the summer in an unexpected manner to return to Real Madrid.
But some of those in the Goodison Park boardroom just didn’t help themselves by knocking on Benitez’s door.
It was a huge mistake from the get-go and no one is surprised that he has served the second-shortest stint in the club’s managerial history.
Whilst Benitez was an issue, and he didn’t exactly make things better, the problems stem beyond him because Everton as a club have been rotting for far too long.
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