Roberto Martínez has said Howard Kendall’s funeral should serve as an inspiration to the present generation of Everton players as they strive to emulate his achievements at Goodison Park.
The Everton manager was accompanied by the club’s entire playing staff, from academy to senior level, at Thursday’s farewell to the 69-year-old at Liverpool Anglican Cathedral, an event Martínez described as “classy and educational”. Joe Royle and Peter Reid were among those who eulogised Kendall’s success as both a player and manager at Everton. Their memories, Martínez believes, will resonate with his squad.
“First of all the event was a great moment to reflect on what we are as a football club and our history,” said the Everton manager. “I think it was a valuable experience for the players, especially the new players that have just arrived and need to get a good insight into what we are as a football club. It was so rich to see how the ex-players speak about the football club and the success that we had and that is inspirational. I don’t think that is pressure.
“As a player or a manager or anyone on the staff, you want that expectation and to embrace that. As a football club it gives you a real belief that we have done it in the past so why can we not do it now?”
Martínez admitted he was moved on a personal level by the tributes and the thousands who gathered to pay respect to his illustrious predecessor. He added: “It was a proud moment to be involved in Everton for everyone. There was the respectful nature of the event towards Howard Kendall’s career and the human quality that he had.
“For me, he sets the example for what a manager should be at Everton and what a player should be. The dream he had, the vision of winning the league and becoming a leading club in Europe, came from nothing and that is inspirational in itself. But I think the respect, the style of the event and the way world football stood still to honour Howard Kendall was inspirational.
“It sets a clear path for us. Of course, there is a lot of hard work. It wasn’t a straight path for Howard himself but it can be achieved. We have to be a football club that uses the past in our favour and sees a route above finances and the modern game.”
Meanwhile, Arouna Koné is close to activating an appearance clause in his contract that extends his Everton career by a further 12 months.
