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Frank Lampard has been appointed Everton manager after signing a two-a-half-year contract at Goodison Park.
The former England midfielder, who has had previous managerial spells at Derby and Chelsea, will take charge for this weekend’s FA Cup fourth-round visit of Brentford.
He is the Merseyside club’s seventh manager in six years.
The 43-year-old underwent a final interview in London on Friday, along with other contenders Vitor Pereira and previous caretaker boss Duncan Ferguson.
Owner Farhad Moshiri, chairman Bill Kenwright and other board members were present and Lampard was officially appointed as a successor for Rafael Benitez on Monday.
Lampard said: “It is a huge honour for me to represent and manage a club the size and tradition of Everton Football Club. I’m very hungry to get started.
“After speaking to the owner, Chairman and the Board, I very much felt their passion and ambition. I hope they felt my ambition and how hard I want to work to bring it together.
“You can feel the passion Everton fans have for their club. That will be hugely important. As a team – the competitive level that the Premier League brings and the position we are in the table – we certainly need that. It’s a two-way thing.
“I think Everton is a unique club in that you can really understand what the fans want to see. The first thing they want is fight and desire and that must always be our baseline.
“My first message to the players will be that we have to do this together. We’ll try to do our job and I know the fans will be there backing us.”
Lampard will bring in his own team, including former Derby, Swansea and Reading boss Paul Clement, but also retain Ferguson on the staff.
Everton majority shareholder, Farhad Moshiri, said: “I am really delighted that Frank has joined us. He is an impressive young man and off the pitch. He has played at the very highest level of the game and has football in his blood.”
Lampard’s first task will be to pull Everton away from the relegation zone. Ten defeats in their last 13 matches have left the club just four points above the bottom three.
© AAP
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