Marcel Brands signs new Everton contract

Everton director of football Marcel Brands has signed a new three-year contract at Goodison Park.

The Dutchman’s current three-year deal expired at the end of the season but has now ended speculation about his future by committing to the club until the summer of 2024.

Speaking about his new deal, Brands said:

“Everton is a very special football club and a club with clear and exciting ambitions. We are making good progress and I believe we have everything in place for us to be successful.

“I am delighted to continue to work alongside such supportive and ambitious colleagues on our Board and Executive team and this, together with such a talented manager and supportive owner and Chairman, puts us in a really strong position for the future.”

Club Chairman Bill Kenwright added:

“There hasn’t really been any doubt for some time that Marcel and I would sit down and agree a new contract. With Farhad’s blessing it took us around about one play of Z Cars to reach an agreement.

“As well as being terrific at his job, Marcel has an excellent working relationship with Carlo and with our CEO, Denise, and myself and it was important to maintain the structure and stability we have put in place over recent years.

“Farhad and I both wish our leadership team success and happiness as we all work together to build an exciting future for our great club.”

Rumours had previously circulated in November 2020 that Manchester United were interested in bringing in the Dutchman, but when Carlo Ancelotti was asked about them he indicated that was news to him.

“Wow!

“I have a good relationship with him. But apart from the friendship, I think he is doing a fantastic job. He has been at the club here longer than me, I found the club very well organized. I found a really important scouting department, so I think it will be important for him to continue and to find a deal with the club.”

In the fallout of the Super League’s demise, it was revealed yesterday that Ed Woodward would be leaving United and Everton’s announcement today kills off any speculation that they could target Brands.

There have been fewer misses than in past transfer windows since Brands has come in, but after a quiet January window, he will need to really ace this upcoming summer transfer window before this Everton squad can really be called Ancelotti’s.

Brands has indicated in the past that he has done his best work with veteran managers like Louis van Gaal and Dick Advocaat, so maybe he is destined to do even greater things with the Italian legend, who himself faces what could be called the biggest challenge of his storied managerial career.

Brands arrived at Goodison in the summer of 2018 and was immediately thrown in the deep end as he attempted to salvage something from the smouldering wreckage of a squad left by messrs Walsh, Koeman and Allardyce.

He has operated with one hand behind his back since, trying to strengthen the team while simultaneously lightening the wage bill of under-performing players on eye-wateringly high wages.

Most of those unwanted players will finally leave this summer, meaning the next window will be the first time Brands will really have had a bit of space to operate in the market.