Brands replaces Walsh as Everton Director of Football
Brands has been at PSV since 2010
Written by Simon Austin — May 16, 2018
PSV EINDHOVEN'S Marcel Brands has replaced Steve Walsh as Director of Football at Everton.
The 56-year-old has been Technical Director at PSV since 2010 and helped them win the Eredivisie in three of the last four seasons.
Walsh’s exit, less than two years after he was headhunted by the Toffees, shows just how quickly fortunes can change in football. Two years ago, Walsh was described as the “most influential person in the Premier League” by none less than Sir Alex Ferguson.
As Leicester's Head of Recruitment, he had overseen the signings of Riyad Mahrez, Jamie Vardy and N'Golo Kante, who went on to become the key players in Leicester’s Premier League title triumph in 2015/16.
Recruitment has been his undoing at Everton, however. The club spent £150m in last summer's transfer window, yet failed to sign a replacement for outgoing striker Romelu Lukaku.
Director Professor Denise Barrett-Baxendale said: “On behalf of the Board and (majority shareholder) Farhad Moshiri, I’d like to express our thanks to Steve Walsh, our first ever Director of Football, who has now left the club. We all wish Steve well for his future.”
WHAT THEY SAID
Brands: “It is a privilege to be joining Everton as Director of Football and I am incredibly excited to take on this challenge.
“The fantastic passion of the fans for their club, the magnificent history and the ambition and purpose we have as people tasked with driving the club forward all mean that we need to be competing for honours against the Premier League elite.
“It is no straightforward challenge but this must be our motivation each and every day. It is only a challenge such as this which could have persuaded me to leave PSV where I am indebted to the many people whose collective effort led to some great achievements.
“Now we will look to build something really strong and lasting here at Everton.”
Moshiri: “Marcel’s record of achievement has cemented his reputation across Europe and I am extremely pleased that we will be bringing his drive, energy and expertise to Everton.
“It was clear to me in our conversations that he shares in the vision we have for the club and he has much to contribute in making us better and more equipped to challenge the top teams in the Premier League.”
Chairman Bill Kenwright: “I would like to welcome Marcel to Everton and I’m looking forward to working with him. His successful track record is there for all to see and having him here to help lead Everton forward is something which I’m sure will excite all Evertonians.”
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