By Daily Sports on January 16, 2022

RAFA BENITEZ has been sacked by Everton after just 19 Premier League games in charge.

The Toffees board called an emergency meeting last night following their disastrous 2-1 loss at strugglers Norwich.

They decided the former Liverpool chief had to go, as angry fans demanded he be given the boot after a shocking run.

The result at Carrow Road left Everton just six points off the Prem drop zone and in freefall.

They had also lost nine of their last 12 league matches, despite beating Arsenal at home 2-1 in December.

The Spaniard was only appointed manager in late June on a three-year contract, and has lasted little more than six-months.

The Toffees said in a statement: "Everton Football Club can confirm the departure of Rafael Benitez as First Team manager.

"Benitez, who joined Everton in June 2021, has left the Club with immediate effect.

"An update on a permanent replacement will be made in due course."

It is understood Duncan Ferguson will again take temporary charge while a new manager is found by the under-fire board.

Wayne Rooney and Kasper Hjulmand are the favourites to take over the role with the bookies.

And according to the Telegraph, Jose Mourinho has been sounded out over a possible return to England from Roma.

Benitez had replaced Carlo Ancelotti in the hotseat after the Italian suddenly quit to take over at Real Madrid.

He was always up against it, with Everton fans struggling to get past his association with Liverpool who he managed for six years and guided to Champions League glory.

Benitez made a bright start, winning three of the Toffees' first four games in the Premier League.

But then things started to go wrong, with just one win since September.

Benitez even admitted himself his position was out of his hands following the defeat to the Canaries.

He said: "I am a professional and I have enough experience of these situations.

"I came here to fix issues that come from the last five years so what we have to do is analyse these mistakes we are making and try to avoid them.

"Other things are not in my hands. I am just trying to do my job.

"I am really disappointed that we lost and disappointed for the fans who are travelling to support us. It’s not an ideal situation.

"We have to improve things on the pitch, keep working hard and try to make the right decisions.

"We didn’t start the game well and after we made a couple of mistakes we had another mountain to climb.

"The team was much better in the second-half and now that we have Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin, Mina and Doucoure back we are expecting to be stronger.

"You can see that this is trying to react but we have to be more proactive. We can’t be conceding goals in the first minutes and then trying to react.

"It’s positive that we are reacting but these mistakes are costing us points and games every week.

"We are doing a lot of things that are good for the future, bringing in new players, but we need to be winning on the pitch." (The Sun)

•PHOTO: Benitez

Source Daily Sports

Posted January 16, 2022

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