Rafa Benitez intends to speak with Duncan Ferguson over becoming his assistant coach once confirmed as the new Everton manager, according to the Daily Mail.
Toffees owner Farhad Moshiri is ready to make Benitez the first to manage both Everton and Liverpool since the 1890s. The Spaniard will sign a three-year deal to take charge at Goodison Park and end the search for Carlo Ancelotti’s successor.
Moshiri met with Benitez several times to discuss taking charge at Everton after Ancelotti stunned them by re-joining Real Madrid. The Blues will likely confirm the 61-year-old’s arrival on Wednesday, and he has already begun planning his backroom team.
Benitez is eager to get to work and has been planning his Everton staff for the past three weeks. Paco de Miguel is expected to join as his fitness coach, while talks will be held with Ferguson.
Benitez wants to have someone in his dugout with a connection to Everton, and hopes that will be Ferguson. The former Chelsea boss hired Bolo Zenden at Stamford Bridge, while Sammy Lee joined him at Liverpool.
Ferguson had worked as the number two at Goodison Park under Ancelotti during the Italian’s 18-month tenure on Merseyside. But he wanted to now take the step up to the top job at Everton and take over as manager.
Ferguson won one of his four matches in charge while interim coach after Moshiri fired Marco Silva in December 2019. Everton also held Manchester United and Arsenal to draws after beating Chelsea, but lost to Leicester in the EFL Cup.
Ferguson may not like Benitez’s Everton plan
Benitez is sticking with his tried and tested methods by wanting Ferguson as his number two at Everton. He clearly felt it worked for him at Liverpool and Chelsea, where he won the Europa League while caretaker manager.
But Ferguson might not like the idea of sticking around at Everton as Benitez’s right-hand man after wanting the job. The Toffees fans’ favourite has an adoring relationship with the club and its supporters, yet could be left with a great sense of what could have been.
Obviously, his bond with Everton can help Benitez convince Ferguson to stay at the club. It would be hard for him to say goodbye, but equally as challenging knowing you were not even second best. That goes to Nuno Espirito Santo, the front-runner before Benitez.
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