Three interesting alternative choices to become the next Everton manager
Nuno Santo, Eddie Howe, David Moyes, Rafa Benitez, and even Steven Gerrard have emerged as the early contenders for the Everton job following Carlo Ancelotti’s surprise return to Real Madrid.
However, away from the early cluster of favourites in the betting market we’ve picked out a trio of alternative names who could soon attract attention from the Toffees...
Christophe Galtier: 25/1 with Bet Victor
A highly sought-after yet cheaper alternative for Everton is ‘manager of the moment’ Christophe Galtier, who is being hotly linked with the likes of Nice and Lazio after he decided to leave Lille following their stunning Ligue 1 title triumph.
The Frenchman’s sensational success even saw his name briefly catapulted into contention for the Real Madrid job before they appointed you-know-who, while he’s reportedly been on Tottenham’s radar too. But then again, who hasn’t.
Leading Lille to glory ahead of super giants PSG was a truly astonishing achievement. In fact, it’s surely one of the outstanding managerial moments in recent memory.
After all, let’s remember that Lille were in a relegation battle when Galtier was appointed in late 2017, yet he worked his magic and transformed them into the champions of French football.
His Lille side were very organised and compact, shrewd and intelligent in their recruitment, and defensively stubborn - conceding just 23 goals last term - with the tactically astute Galtier enjoying immense success with a 4-4-2 formation, which Ancelotti of course favoured at Everton.
Galtier took his players to new levels. He’s received buckets of praise for the way he’s combined youth with experience; he’s developed young talents and squeezed the very best out of players in their 30s, including Jose Fonte and Burak Yilmaz. Former Swansea flop Renato Sanches has been simply superb too.
Galtier is now seeking out his next challenge, and while staying in France is rumoured to be likely with Nice, making his mark in the Premier League surely ranks high on his bucket list.
He’s previously worked over on English shores at Portsmouth, as an assistant to Alain Perrin at Portsmouth, and now has over 500 games under his managerial belt: at Lille he oversaw the same amount of games as the last three Everton managers combined, and lets not target the 361 matches he racked up at first club St-Etienne.
Graham Potter: 20/1 with William Hill
Graham Potter has emerged as one of the brightest British bosses in the game today following his work at Ostersunds FK, Swansea, and now Brighton.
Potter’s brand of football, tactical flexibility, and ability to improve players combined to fire his name into the frame for the Tottenham job.
Who is getting that job is still anyone's guess, so Everton should take advantage of any hesitancy by pinpointing Potter as one of the main targets.
The modern manager is ambitious and will no doubt back himself to improve the fortunes of the Merseyside club, who had to settle for a disappointing 10th-place finish last term.
He’s overseen a complete style overhaul at Brighton who seemed to tick every box last season except a ruthlessness in front of goal.
Imagine Potter’s attractive style of football with a vastly improved set of creative attacking players at his disposal: we’re talking Richarlson, James Rodriguez, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Everton fans have become well accustomed to false dawns, missed opportunities, and endless bad luck but while we’re not saying Potter will immediately transform the club’s fortunes, he’s proven in projects and definitely deserves a shot at a top-10 club.
Chris Wilder: 25/1 with Bet Victor
Just as Chris Wilder seemed all set for the West Brom job shock, yet unconfirmed, reports have stated that the deal could be off.
Wilder may have endured a difficult final season in charge of his beloved Sheffield United, but that doesn’t suddenly make him a ‘has been’ or a ‘bad manager’. His achievements in management have been exceptional, consistent and wide-ranging.
Unlike a number of new managers who waltz into top jobs before they’ve even managed a game, Wilder’s story is a beacon of hope for all bosses. Over the course of the last decade he rose from non-league to the Premier League; winning promotions with the likes of Alfreton Town, Oxford, Northampton, and of course the Blades.
His man-management skills and tactical acumen were widely applauded in his first Premier League season; a season which saw new boys Sheffield United finish three places and five points above Carlo Ancelotti’s Everton.
While his Sheffield United cycle eventually ran its course, it would be intriguing to see what Wilder could achieve with a bigger budget and a higher-calibre of players under his tutorship.
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