Here are your Everton morning headlines for Thursday, October 29.
The social media power of James Rodriguez
When Everton signed James Rodriguez, it was obviously to help improve their fortunes on the pitch. But his enormous social media profile hasn’t done the club any harm either.
The Colombian has the eighth largest number of followers in the sporting world, and sixth most among footballers, with an incredible total of 95.8million.
And in his short time on Merseyside, global interest in Everton – and especially in Rodriguez’ home country – has skyrocketed, as Everton’s director of marketing, communications and community, Richard Kenyon, has explained.
“The impact we achieved is testament to our long-term planning and vision for the US and South America and the efforts we have been putting into building up relationships and understanding audiences.”
You can learn more about this and the lengths Colombians are going to in order to watch Everton games here.
Blues’ former keeper on new signings
Former Everton goalkeeper Nigel Martyn has been giving his view on new signings Rodriguez and Allan. He has admitted that he had initial reservations about the Colombian, which will probably surprise many Blues’ fans.
“Great player, great World Cup, going to Real Madrid, perhaps he would have been hoping to go to a bigger club so you often worry about that type of signing,” he said.
But things have changed over the last couple of months. Martyn was also fulsome in his praise of Allan, in an interview he gave to HITC.
It’s certainly interesting to see which former Everton midfielder he says the Brazilian reminds him of.
MegaFon delighted with Everton deal
Everton Women are currently preparing for the Women’s FA Cup Final this weekend, and their commercial prospects have been given a boost by MegaFon.
The mobile phone operator will now become the front-of-shirt sponsor for the women. Another MegaFon firm, Yota, will become their sleeve sponsor.
Everton Women's sporting and commercial director Sarvar Ismailov and Megafon chief executive Gevork Vermishyan have both spoken about their delight at the deal.
“This partnership reflects the increasing prominence of the women's game and the exciting future for our women’s team,” Ismailov said.
