Bill Kenwright has compared Michael Keane to Everton legend Brian Labone after selecting the centre-back as the winner of his chairman's 'Blueblood' award at the club's end-of-season 'Dixies' awards.
Nicknamed 'The Last of the Corinthians', lifelong Evertonian Labone made 534 appearances for his beloved Blues, captaining them to the League Championship in 1970 and FA Cup in 1966 while also lifting the title in 1963.
Mr Kenwright said: “Michael has been a class act and what he has done this season epitomises Blueblood.
“He has taken hold of his place in the Football Club and established himself as a true Everton centre-half. Blueblood has to have heart, character, resilience and a massive amount of talent. And he has all of those.
“I think Marco [Silva] has had a lot to do with his success this year.
“But Michael is a centre-back in the Brian Labone mould – and I promise you, it doesn’t get bigger than Brian Labone for me. He has had a colossal year and I am really, really proud to present him with this Chairman’s award.”
England international Keane, who joined Everton from Burnley in 2017, revealed he was shocked but honoured to receive the accolade.
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After following the likes of Duncan Ferguson, Tim Cahill, David Moyes and Leon Osman in being recognised by Mr Kenwright, the centre-back said: “They are a bunch of legends at this club and hopefully I can become one of those.
“I’ve never had an award like this before, I’m only 26 so it’s a real surprise and I’m a bit overwhelmed.
“I didn’t expect it at all, it was a huge shock but a massive honour.”
Mr Kenwright also chose David Unsworth as this year's Everton Giant.
Unsworth steered Everton Under-23s to a second Premier League 2 title in three seasons and last week masterminded more trophy success when his young Blues beat Newcastle United to claim the Premier League Cup.
Academy graduate Unsworth played 350 times for Everton after making his debut aged 18 against Tottenham Hotspur in 1992.
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He said: “It is an amazing surprise and incredible shock. I must thank my staff for their outstanding support.
“It is an honour to manage and coach these players and an honour and a privilege to work for Everton Football Club.”
Unsworth has twice taken temporary charge of Everton and been instrumental in retaining the strong link between the club’s Academy and first team.
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Mr Kenwright said: “I know few Evertonians more deserving of the title Everton Giant.
“There has been legend after legend at this club and Unsy has every right to join them, as a player and a coach.
“To win the league twice in three seasons is extraordinary, especially when so many of his players have been taken away for first-team duty.
“The Everton blueblood in your veins takes you to another place – but he has talent, too.”
Majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri added: “Everything about Everton is so special, it is a club with great history and tradition.
“And people like Unsy have that winning mentality. He is doing everything right to instil in every youngster’s blood the importance of winning.
“Understanding what this blue jersey is about is very important and that is what Unsy is giving his players. He fully deserves this award.”
Unsworth’s double-winning Everton Under-23s scooped the Howard Kendall Award, which acknowledges an area of outstanding achievement at the club.
“Winning the double is an amazing achievement,” said Mr Kenwright.
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“The Under-23s received this award two years ago for winning the league – but this is winning the league and cup. And they are a great bunch of lads. They never give up and fight like dervishes.
“We had to acknowledge them. To celebrate the name of Howard Kendall by giving the award to those Under-23 lads was absolutely the right thing to do.”
Mr Moshiri added: “Winning twice is the hardest thing in football and they achieved it by regaining the title. And the double is so important.”
Gylfi Sigurdsson secured Goal of the Season for his glorious effort to win Everton’s Premier League game at Leicester City in October.
The Icelandic international said: “It means a lot to receive this award and it was a special strike for me.
“Thank you to the fans for their votes.”
Unsworth confessed he was confronted with a “hard decision” before selecting forward Nathan Broadhead as Under-23s’ Player of the Season while Northern Ireland international striker Simone Magill claimed the Dixie for Everton Ladies’ Player of the Season.
The 24-year-old was on target in both Everton’s Merseyside derby victories in December and struck decisively again in a 3-2 success against Reading last month.
Everton’s Fan of the Year is Alfie, the inspirational 10-year-old who has launched his Alfie’s Squad initiative; a fundraising campaign to develop a children’s-focussed area in the club’s proposed People’s Place mental health facility.
Alfie, whose father died in 2017 after suffering with mental health issues, was invited to Finch Farm to receive his Dixie from Marco Silva.
The People’s Club award went to the formidable Henry Mooney, who retires next month following more than 12 years as Everton’s community engagement officer.
Chief Executive Denise Barrett-Baxendale, who presented Mooney with his richly-deserved Dixie, said: “Henry is a true community champion and an amazing ambassador for Everton in the Community.
“He has enthusiasm, commitment, dedication and a true love for our club. He is a fantastic Evertonian and a worthy recipient of this award.”
- This year’s Dixies will be available to all supporters on demand via the club’s YouTube channel from 8pm.
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