Africa-Press – Zambia. EVERTON SET TO APPOINT RAFAEL BENITEZ, AS CRYSTAL PALACE LOOK FORMER ARSENAL LEGEND, PATRICK VIEIRA Everton are close to confirming the appointment of ex-Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez as successor to Carlo Ancelotti after he agreed a three-year deal.
The contentious arrival of the 61-year is now seen as a formality after he impressed Everton owner Farhad Moshiri in several rounds of talks. Benitez won the Champions League and the FA Cup in a six-year spell at Anfield. Ancelotti resigned in early June to return to Real Madrid.
In a historic and controversial move, Benitez will join William Edward Barclay, who was part of the original foundation of Everton in the 1890s and later the breakaway Liverpool club, as the only men to cross the city divide to manage both clubs.
While Patrick Vieira could be confirmed as the new Crystal Palace manager within the next 24 hours. The former Arsenal skipper has emerged as Palace’s preferred candidate after a lengthy process since Roy Hodgson announced he was leaving the club on 18 May.
Talks have progressed quickly and only the final details remain for Vieira, 45, to sign a three-year contract. Vieira was sacked by French club Nice in December.
Previously he had spent two and a half years in charge of Major League Soccer outfit New York City after beginning his coaching career in the academy at Manchester City, where he ended his stellar playing career in 2011. He secured two play-off appearances at New York City and achieved seventh and fifth-placed finishes during his two full seasons at Nice. [BBC]
