Everton have confirmed the appointment of Frank Lampard as new head coach following Rafa Benitez's sacking earlier this month.
Benitez was relieved of his duties following a 2-1 loss to Norwich, while a 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa prior to the international break leaves Everton just four points above the drop zone.
Vitor Pereira had emerged as a contender for the role last week, but the Toffees elected to instead go for Lampard, who had been out of work for a year after his Chelsea sacking last January.
"Everton Football Club can confirm the appointment of Frank Lampard as the Club’s new manager," a statement read on the club's official website.
"The former England midfielder has agreed a two-and-a-half-year contract - until June 2024 - and will take charge of the First Team for the FA Cup fourth-round tie against Brentford at Goodison Park on Saturday 5 February.
"The appointment of Lampard comes after a robust recruitment process with several candidates being interviewed by the Club’s majority shareholder and Board of Directors.
"Lampard started management with Derby County in 2018, leading the Rams to the final of that season’s Championship play-offs. He was appointed head coach at former club Chelsea the following year and, helping develop many of the club’s young talents, guided the Londoners to fourth place in the Premier League and the FA Cup final in his first season in charge.
"The new Everton manager will be supported by a vastly experienced and talented backroom team made up of Joe Edwards as his Assistant Manager, Paul Clement as First Team Coach and Chris Jones as First Team Coach and Head of Performance."
👀 Frank Lampard only won 5 of 19 games at Goodison Park as a player, scoring 5 goals pic.twitter.com/vhxX6j0MaD
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) January 31, 2022
On the appointment, 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."
