Everton have confirmed the sacking of Rafa Benitez following the 2-1 defeat to Norwich City.
The result, against a team who went into the fixture bottom of the Premier League after six straight defeats and without a goal in the competition since November left the Blues with just one win from their last 13 Premier League matches and a six point gap between themselves and the relegation zone.
Club chiefs met to discuss Benitez’s future on Saturday night and the Spaniard’s exit was confirmed just before 3pm on Sunday.
A short club statement read: “Everton Football Club can confirm the departure of Rafael Benitez as First Team manager.
“Benitez, who joined Everton in June 2021, has left the Club with immediate effect.
“An update on a permanent replacement will be made in due course.”
Given that he had previously managed Liverpool between 2004-10, Benitez was arguably the most-controversial appointment in the city’s football history but fans had become increasingly frustrated by Everton’s slide down the table in recent weeks with a last-gasp victory over Arsenal on December 6 their only Premier League win since September.
