Everton target former Arsenal player for coaching vacancy

Everton have confirmed that Marco Silva’s assistant coach Joao Pedro Sousa has joined Portuguese newly-promoted side Famalicão as their manager in a tweet today. The news was no surprise as the move was first revealed unofficially a fortnight ago, but with the manager unveiled formally in a ceremony yesterday, it now opens up the door to speculation on who will be replacing him.

Portuguese daily Record (via Sport Witness) are reporting that former Premier League player Luis Boa Morte will likely be replacing Sousa at Everton. The winger has fourteen years of Premier League experience, having previously featured for Arsenal, Southampton, Fulham and West Ham United in that time.

Capped 28 times for Portugal, once the 41-year-old hung up his boots he joined Silva at Sporting for the 2014-15 season managing the Under-19 squad. Since then Boa Morte worked as a scout for the Gunners before managing third division Portuguese club Sintrense, then taking over the Under-23 side at Portimonense. Since January this year he’s been assistant coach at Maccabi Haifa in Israel.

The report adds that Silva is particularly interested in Boa Morte due to the extensive time he spent in England during his playing career.