Rafael Benitez has been sacked as Everton manager.
A point away at Chelsea looked to have steered Everton back on course ahead of their first fixture of 2022 at Brighton, but a disappointing defeat by the Seagulls and a dismal loss at Norwich City on Saturday – either side of a narrow FA Cup win over Hull City – proved to be Benitez’s final acts in charge.
Some visiting fans at Carrow Road brandished banners calling for for Benitez to leave the club, and Everton chiefs held an emergency board meeting after the 2-1 loss to the Canaries.
Owner Farhad Moshiri then made the final decision on the Spaniard’s future, and will now be looking for his sixth permanent manager in six years.
The Spaniard had seen the large dip in morale amongst the squad at Goodison Park, with French full-back Lucas Digne leaving the club earlier this month to join Aston Villa.
Everton had been Benitez’s fourth different club job in the Premier League, after previous spells at Liverpool, Chelsea and Newcastle United.
He has also managed Valencia, Real Madrid, Inter Milan and Napoli, but his second spell on Merseyside proved to be one of the more disappointing of his long career.
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