Former Watford boss Quique Flores is keen on managing again in England. Should Everton move for him?
Sam Allardyce looks set to succeed in his task to keep Everton clear of relegation, but nobody is convinced he is the long-term answer at the club.
The Toffees are expected to make a fresh appointment in the summer, and a name they should not discount is Quique Flores.
Flores managed for one season at Watford in England’s top flight in 2015/16, guiding the then newly promoted side to 13th place (just two places behind Everton).
Memorable wins included Watford’s 3-0 defeat over new Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp their run to the FA Cup semi-finals where they knocked out Arsenal along the way.
His axing came to the dismay of Troy Deeney, who told ITV Sport: “He’s brought me on a lot as a player. I have nothing but gratitude. We’ve had 16 new players and he’s made it seem effortless. It’s one of those crazy ones.”
While Flores’ dismissal came as a shock and he had no trouble finding work with Espanyol instantly, but with the side in 13th place in La Liga he is ready to move on for a new challenge.
Stoke City tried to hire Flores in January but he was unwilling to walk out on his club mid-season.
Flores has experience managing Benfica and Atletico Madrid, where he led the side to win the Europa League in 2010.
Unfortunately for him he has managed teams on limited budgets and expectations since, and Everton could be just the right challenge for the Spaniard to take his career back to the level he aspires to.
Flores’ teams have been built on defensive stability, while he was not afraid to play two strikers up front either, with Deeney and Odion Ighalo shining at Watford under him.
Everton could do a lot worse, including keeping Allardyce, and his desire to work again in England should at least see him come under consideration for the Toffees job.
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