Former Everton Director of Football Marcel Brands, disclosed his efforts to appoint Mikel Arteta as manager for the club before Arsenal swooped in.
Brands revealed the club wanted Arteta, recognizing him as an ideal candidate for Everton due to his combination of playing experience and emerging coaching abilities.
Despite Arteta’s role as assistant to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City at the time, Brands saw potential for him to excel as a head coach.
In an interview with Dutch outlet SoccerNews, the former Everton Chief expressed admiration for Arteta’s preparation and passion for coaching.
He recalled a meeting at Arteta’s house where he was thoroughly impressed by the Spaniard’s exposure and readiness for the role.
However, Arteta went on to accept the managerial position at Arsenal in December 2019, shortly after Brands’ attempt to bring him to Everton failed.
The sudden availability of Carlo Ancelotti also shifted Everton’s focus, leading to Ancelotti’s appointment instead.
Ancelotti’s tenure at Everton lasted only 18 months before his move to Real Madrid.
While Arteta’s decision to join Arsenal marked the beginning of his laudable managerial career, where he has since made significant strides.
With his guidance, Arsenal maintain the top spot position in the Premier League, and are in contention for the title.
He has also led the London club to their first quarter-final clash, for the first time since 2014, where they will face Bayern Munich.