Everton legend Graeme Sharp has been appointed the club's first "Players’ Life President."
The ‘Everton Giant’ has been given a prestigious new role by Chairman Bill Kenwright and the Goodison Board of Directors in recognition of his exemplary service for the club across four decades.
Sharp's current ambassadorial duties will continue as part of his new remit, but he will take on enhanced responsibilities, including becoming an advisor to the Board of Directors.
Everton Chairman Bill Kenwright said: “Other than Dixie, Sharpy has scored more goals for Everton than any player in our history, which is quite extraordinary and sums up what an Everton legend he is.
“As a player, he had skill, he had finesse but he was and still is such a humble lad who is grateful to remain part of Everton and that makes me even more grateful to have him.
“It’s all about the DNA with Evertonians and Sharpy has that. It was a key reason why we asked him to be the Players’ Life President.
“Sharpy was a major part of the club’s greatest period ever. He’s not only kept that love of Everton, he’s kept the Everton DNA and that’s why the fans love him.
“I could not imagine Everton without Graeme Sharp.”
Sharp will act as a senior Everton representative across national and international media in a position which will also see him become a valuable source of knowledge and experienced point of contact for the club’s captain, Board, Academy, Executive Leadership team and first-team management staff.
He will play an active role in supporting club executives develop and maintain the right culture and behaviours across the club and will continue to contribute to the growth and extended reach of the club’s official charity, Everton in the Community.
He said: “It is a huge honour for me to be asked by Everton to become the club’s first Players’ Life President.
"Everton Football Club has been part of mine and my family’s life for so many years and we have so many cherished memories from both my time as a player and in my role as an ambassador. It has been - and will continue to be - a privilege engaging with our passionate global fanbase.
“I have been fortunate enough to represent Everton around the world and the way in which the supporters, current and former management teams and staff, and our current and former players are connected to and have a bond with the club makes Everton special.
"The ambition shown by Mr Moshiri, the Chairman and the Board at Everton means it is a really exciting time to be an Evertonian. I look forward to being able to work with all the people who make our club what it is and represent them in my new role."
Everton’s post-war leading scorer, ‘Sharpy’ netted 160 goals in 447 appearances during a glittering playing career.
He is the second highest goalscorer in Everton's history – second only to Dixie Dean in the Club's pantheon of goalscoring greats - and his goals mattered.
They helped Everton win two league titles, a European Cup Winners' Cup and the FA Cup.
But he wasn't just a great goalscorer. He was a scorer of great goals.
There was his iconic Anfield Goal of the Season in 1984, a strike which signalled a seismic powershift on Merseyside, a quite ridiculous volley against Tottenham in 1982, a superb volley against Sheffield Wednesday - and a slick pirouette on a frozen pitch at Ipswich in the 84/85 title winning season.
After leaving Everton to join Oldham in 1991, Sharp returned to the Blues in 2000 in an ambassadorial role and in 2005 was inducted as an ‘Everton Giant’.
Now he has embraced a unique new role.
