Everton have made some truly woeful managerial decisions since Farhad Moshiri took ownership of the club.
Unsurprisingly seeking to stamp his claim on his newly-purchased outfit, Ronald Koeman marked the first in what would be a long line of head coaches, none of which would achieve any real success.
In fact, not one of the seven appointed has managed to better Roberto Martinez’s first campaign at Goodison Park, where he nearly led his Toffees side into the Champions League.
However, that could have all changed had Carlo Ancelotti decided to stick through the tough times and opt against returning to Real Madrid; a decision few begrudge him for in hindsight.
What’s even more interesting is the alternative manager that Marcel Brands has now suggested he nearly appointed instead of the legendary Italian.
Did Mikel Arteta nearly become the manager of Everton?
Speaking earlier this week to SoccerNews, via Sport Witness, the Dutchman and current PSV President noted: ‘I moved heaven and earth to bring Arteta to Everton.
‘He is also a former player of course. I spent the entire evening at his house and I saw him as the ideal man for us. I immediately saw a top trainer. At the time he was still an assistant to Pep Guardiola and he was busy with other things. But you saw that he was becoming a top trainer.
‘I only heard positive things. Also within the club Everton. Then I was at his house to sound him out and I got so excited. So well prepared, and that passion came out everywhere. His mouth, his nose and his ears. I thought this is the trainer, but for the long term.’
Given how he has gone on to thrive with Arsenal, even being branded a ‘world-class’ manager by Kieron Dyer, it feels like one that got away for Everton.
Even Mikel Arteta could not have saved Everton
However, there is really no guarantee that the Spaniard would have succeeded at Everton, given the conditions he inherited at the Emirates were far more amicable than the ones on Merseyside.
But first, the similarities they shared. Both sides were in desperate need of a vast squad overhaul, and although Arteta did inherit some quality at Arsenal, there were key holes missing.
The Toffees would have been the same, but the key difference is that the Gunners boasted the stable financial position to do so.
They could afford to let Mesut Ozil, Nicolas Pepe and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang all leave for next to nothing, whereas Everton were not quite blessed with that kind of stability.
So, had Arteta joined, he would have likely been caught up in the current financial turmoil that has tarnished Sean Dyche‘s time with the club.
No man could have coached success out of these players and in this climate. I think he made a wise decision opting for the Gunners over the Toffees…