Everton finally get their man as Marco Silva becomes new boss

Marco Silva stressed his commitment to attacking football after being appointed the new manager of Everton.

The Portuguese former Hull and Watford boss succeeds Sam Allardyce, who left Goodison Park earlier this month after an unpopular five-and-a-half-month spell.

Everton tried to secure Silva’s services following the sacking of Ronald Koeman last October but Watford rebuffed their advances only to axe the 40-year-old two months later, citing the Toffees’ approach as the reason for a slump in form.

Silva rose to prominence with Estoril in his homeland before one-season spells with Sporting and then Olympiacos in Greece.

He moved to England in January 2017 with Hull and, although he was unable to prevent their relegation from the Premier League, his impact and style of play earned him another chance in the top flight at Vicarage Road.

Silva’s footballing philosophy is likely to have played a big part in Everton’s interest after fans’ criticism of the football under Allardyce.

He told evertontv: “I’m really proud to be the new Everton manager. I’m excited and I’m really happy to take this big challenge for us as a club and for me as a manager.

“I know the huge history of Everton as a club and what the fans expect. I’m sure with everybody working together I will be ready for this challenge.

“I want our fans to be proud when they see our team on the pitch. I want them to feel that we are committed, that we are working hard and enjoying our football, because that is important as well.

“We want to build a great connection between the squad and the fans, and I’m sure that with our attitude and demands of commitment then our style of play will see that. Everton is a really ambitious club and that is what I want.”

It has been all change at Goodison Park since a disappointing season finished with the club sitting eighth in the Premier League. Along with Allardyce, director of football Steve Walsh also left and was replaced by Dutchman Marcel Brands.

Brands officially begins work in England on Friday following the end of his stay at PSV Eindhoven, although he has been involved in getting the Silva deal over the line.

He said: “Marco is a young coach but also an experienced coach and he’s worked already at the top. One of the most important things is that he’s a guy who wants to play attractive, attacking football and also wants to work in the structure we have at Everton.

“He’s a guy who has proved already that he wants to work with young players, make them better, and he has performed very well with the teams he’s worked with. He will be a very good manager for Everton.”

“In Marco and Marcel we welcome a pair of sportsmen whose statements of intent have already shown that they embrace that special quality that Evertonians look for and, with (major shareholder) Farhad (Moshiri’s) vigorous patronage, we are looking forward to the three Ms – Marco, Marcel and Moshiri – help take the Blues back to their rightful position among football’s elite.”

Silva will be joined at Goodison Park by assistant manager Joao Pedro, goalkeeping coach Hugo Olivera, technical scout Antonis Lemonakis and fitness coach Pedro Conceicao.