Although silverware has been in short supply at Everton under Bill Kenwright, he has attested that fans have enjoyed ‘good times’, much to their dismay.
However, following the sad news of his passing, this is a notion that some may now come to agree with as they can ease their prejudices, even if the Toffees are not the same once-dominant institution of old.
David Moyes’ stint as manager was steady if unspectacular, working on a tight budget to perform miracles, before Farhad Moshiri’s arrival injected excitement, and huge finances, to reignite hopes of a return to the top.
Although that has not come to fruition, arguably sinking further away from the levels fans would have hoped to achieve, there was a short tenure in between those periods that arguably took them the closest to the success craved, under Roberto Martinez.
It should therefore come as no surprise that the Spaniard was adored by Kenwright, with the chairman having rushed to laud his new appointment back in 2013.
He would note: ‘He’s excited about Austria, he’s so excited about America – I’ve told him to bring us home a trophy – he’s excited about the fixtures. He’s in love. He’s in love with Everton.’
Although his tenure would end unceremoniously, few can deny how good the Toffees were under the former Wigan Athletic boss. In fact, many would likely pine for both the football first played, and the mid-table obscurity that later saw him sacked.
MORE EVERTON STORIES
How good were Everton under Roberto Martinez?
Given how unprecedented his debut campaign at Goodison Park was, expectations were set at an all-time high.
Everton would finish fifth during thaat 2013/14 term, narrowly missing out on a Champions League spot with a brand of football that truly caught the eye.
Still benefitting from the solidity of David Moyes’ coaching, but with the added attacking impetus Martinez boasted, the Merseyside outfit would score 61 and concede just 39 across 38 Premier League matches, enjoying famous wins over Arsenal and Chelsea whilst also doing the double over Manchester United.
Even during his final year in charge saw Everton finish 11th and reach both the FA Cup and EFL Cup semi-finals, yet the 50-year-old was still dismissed as a new era beckoned.
The poisonous finances of Moshiri have only regressed such a fine institution since, with back-to-back relegation battles now the harsh reality Evertonians are forced to live in.
What they wouldn’t give for a return to Martinez’s tenure, admittedly with a little more defensive security, over the doom and gloom that Sean Dyche‘s present-day so often brings.
