Everton appoint Marco Silva as Sam Allardyce successor

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

Everton finally have their man in Marco Silva (Getty)

Marco Silva has been appointed the new manager of Everton on a three-year deal, the Premier League club have announced.

The 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.

“I’m really proud to be the new Everton manager,” Silva told evertontv. “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 want to express my thanks to Farhad, to the Chairman, to the Board of Directors and to Marcel as well for the confidence in my work. 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.

“We have a lot of work to do in this next month and it is important to prepare everything in the right way. But there will be even more important work to do from the start of pre-season into the first Premier League match of next season.

“I know what our fans expect – they expect results but not only results. 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.

“Everybody knows Everton’s history. When you are a club like Everton, you only have one solution – to aim to win. In football it is impossible to win every match but we must do everything to show in every game that we have ambition. That is what I want and I’m sure we will show that every single week.”

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.

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.

PA