Martinez to sound Neville out about staying at Everton

Lyndon Lloyd , 12 June, 28comments | Jump to most recent

Ex-player mulls his next move

As Phil Neville ponders his next move following the announcement of his retirement as a player last week, Roberto Martinez has reiterated his desire to hold talks with the former defender over the possibility of him taking a coaching role at Finch Farm.

Neville has returned from his coaching duties with England U21s in Israel and is now mulling over his options, which include following his brother Gary into broadcasting.

"I have got two paths — one to go into the media, the other to go into coaching and management," the 36 year-old said.

"I have got offers from both. I will sit down at the end of the tournament."

Neville is reported to have received an offer from ex-manager David Moyes to take a coaching position at Manchester United and Martinez says he is keen to talk to him about staying at Everton.

He told told evertontv: "I think Phil Neville is an Everton icon and I think he can bring a lot into his time as a coach.

"I really want to speak with him and see how he feels about his future."

As he sets about building his support staff at Everton – a process he believes will become more clear in the next two weeks – the new Blues boss also expressed his disappointment that David Weir was not able to "be part of the project" but also his understanding that the prospect of taking his first steps into management at Sheffield United was too good to turn down.

Quotes or other material sourced from evertontv

Reader Comments (28)

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Jamie Sweet
1 Posted 12/06/2013 at 20:59:05

I think he has all the attributes to make a decent coach. He also clearly has a good rapport with the rest of the team. I can't really see a downside on taking a chance on him.

Team morale and the transition between DM and RM will play a big role in determining whether we hit the ground running next season. I definitely think that still having Pip around could help in this respect.

John Crook
2 Posted 12/06/2013 at 21:09:29

If an official offer comes from Moyes, you can guarantee he will go there and his box in the main stand will be up for sale quicker than you can say "I think Phil Neville is an Everton icon".

Steven Telford
3 Posted 12/06/2013 at 21:47:20

..........Everton icon........ you say......
'finishing in the top half of the table is a good achievement for Everton''

Personally, I think he is just too ambitious to have around.

Andy Walker
4 Posted 12/06/2013 at 22:39:52

Martinez rates Neville then.

Steve Jones
5 Posted 12/06/2013 at 22:38:02

Regarding the back room staff overall it looks like we will wait for those going to United to resign first, before we appoint. To avoid paying them out of their contracts in addition to us saying Wigan compensation.

I hope so anyway , would be just like us to pay twice over and United to get them for free!

Regarding Neville , I think he would be a good addition to ensure we get some continuity at least.

Tony Farrell
6 Posted 12/06/2013 at 23:15:14

I would love to see Pip stay here in a coaching capacity I think he has tremendous passion for the game and a good knowledge and desire He's used to winning major trophies with the Mancs and knows what it takes to achieve such goals.

He showed on the pitch how he wanted to win games although his quality and skills weren't of the highest standard; you couldn't help but feel his frustration when he cocked up and we lost. Not the greatest of players admittedly but he's right up there when it comes to wanting to win.

Unfortunately I think the chance to go back to the Mancs maybe too much of a pull for him. A professional with his attributes would be great for any team... I hope it's Everton.

Ciaran Duff
8 Posted 13/06/2013 at 00:46:21

Good move by RM. Not sure Neville will stay though if he gets a better offer from Utd.

Peter Thistle
9 Posted 13/06/2013 at 02:17:31

The Everton Icon bit is a bit strong :)

Liam Reilly
10 Posted 13/06/2013 at 06:45:40

Just don't resign him as a player.

A strong Club Captain though, so may make a good coach, although there's been a few that would dispell that myth.

Tony Draper
11 Posted 13/06/2013 at 08:14:45

I hope Roberto does persuade him to stay, the players' response to him running out onto the pitch, the "We're not worthy" wave and the huge smiles and laughter so clearly "He has the dressing room". He's in great demand and I'd love to see him working alongside Roberto, he has a POWERFUL winner mentality and has lent that to Everton in his time with us.

I also don't want Moyes just dismantling OUR structure to make life easy for himself. Martinez will want who he wants around him; ultimately it will be he who is judged and he may not get exactly who he wants. The easier the transition and the more solid the basis the better he will do.

Reference Mark Hughes making the mass changes already at Stoke and I'm immediately relieved he did not take the reins here as I just see sweeping changes as a recipe for disaster.

Everton require improvements playing wise, NOT change. Pip would be a GOOD addition in my book.

Drew Shortis
12 Posted 13/06/2013 at 09:02:58

Neville would be one of the main men on Martinez's coaching team and I could see him as assistant manager to Roberto. I know he is a favourite of Moyes, but he would not enjoy the same status at Man Utd with the likes of Giggs and Scholes also moving into coaching roles. Perhaps it would be a wiser career move to stay at Everton and shine than to be one of the crowd at United!

Barry Rathbone
13 Posted 13/06/2013 at 09:08:09

Hope RM is just being diplomatic Nev looks another Stuart Pearce in the offing.

Clapping and shouting with that misplaced confidence of his generation of aul' arse ex England players.

Summed up by the dreadful "put your foot in lad..." - an epithet of all that is wrong with British coaching.

Mark Knight
14 Posted 13/06/2013 at 10:04:18

I Agree with Tony,I think a bit of continuity in the form of a recent player can't be such a bad thing... Can it?

Douglas Turner
15 Posted 13/06/2013 at 16:30:13

Hang on, are we looking at the wrong Phil? I might be jumping the gun a bit but I think Jags would be more ideal to coach for us not so far down the line. Nev might be good for the short run but ultimately I say pave the way for our very own Jags (who has already turned down the red devils to stay at the club he loves to this very day)! Just get more of a loyal vibe from Jags than Nev!

Lenny Kingman
16 Posted 13/06/2013 at 18:56:23

Wish I'd put my forecast on now. It's all coming true.

Mike Hughes
17 Posted 13/06/2013 at 19:35:30

Agree with Steven #300.

Everton icon ? ...... (cough, splutter)
I still can't get that pass to a Wigan player out of my mind.
(Mind you I still haven't forgiven Gary Stevens for that pass in the FA Cup final when we were 1-0 up. Oooph! Still hurts. Then there was Sylvan's pass in the FA Cup semi though he is still playing for redemption. Bitter? Moi? Don't get me started on Clive Thomas.)

I can see it now. We give PN his first coaching job so that he can "learn his trade". Then as soon as MUFC come knocking, we are the feeder club once more.

We've got Stubbsy and Duncan for continuity.

Brin Williams
18 Posted 13/06/2013 at 19:46:58

Sod Pip why not go for Jason from the Apprentice - seems to have the makings of a ...........err........quick learner?

Ross Edwards
19 Posted 13/06/2013 at 19:57:53

You have to admit though Brin, his technique was brilliant!

Jamie Barlow
20 Posted 13/06/2013 at 19:59:23

I'd love to know what that oldie whispered in his ear.

And the red shite was fired. A fun episode all round.

Patrick Murphy
21 Posted 13/06/2013 at 20:09:45

I hope PN goes to United, best to utilise the likes of Stubbs, Duncan, Sheeds and Irvine in their coaching capacities. Let's be honest PN like it or not is a United man and always will be and I don't want him near our players because he is too much of a pal of DM and we need a fresh start and a clean break from that era.

I want Everton to be Everton FC not Everton almost United FC,

Tony Dove
22 Posted 13/06/2013 at 22:09:16

If this is the direction Martinez is heading I'm off.

Paul Mackie
23 Posted 13/06/2013 at 22:36:38

Patrick, you're absolutely right. Can't have a guy who's won the PL title multiple times as well as a Champions League final and spent years playing under one of the most successful managers of all time hanging around the club when we could have Alan "Sign for Man U Wayne, it'll be great" Stubbs instead! Utter madness.

Kev Johnson
24 Posted 13/06/2013 at 22:40:14

Brin, Ross and Jamie - I think appointing the next EFC Assistant Manager after a series of initiative-challenging tasks modelled on The Apprentice is a sensible idea.

Patrick Murphy
25 Posted 13/06/2013 at 22:58:44

There's no guarantee that PN will be a good coach or a good manager, all he has at the moment is potential, he has always said his heart belongs to Man U, so given the choice he'd probably go to OT.

If it was a straight choice between Neville and Weir, I would have chosen Weir, but he has left us now and I'd still prefer somebody other than PN. Bobby Charlton and Alan Ball played under great managers in Busby, Ramsey and Catterick but it didn't turn out that they became good managers.

BTW I was reading some old Wigan v Everton matchday programmes and Martinez loves using the word 'phenomenal' I think he's used it a few times since he signed, everything is going to be Phenomenal.

Tony Draper
26 Posted 14/06/2013 at 10:04:38

Talking of motivated ex-players returning and becoming coaches... I wonder what our favourite Aussie is planning when he retires?

Mr Cahill certainly has the drive and enthusiasm and a dressing room icon.

Kev Johnson
27 Posted 15/06/2013 at 11:23:56

A Cahill-related snippet here... Turns out Lions forward Adam Jones is an Everton fan, and he bumped into TC in Oz recently...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/22888155

Al Philby
28 Posted 15/06/2013 at 16:26:54

What Bobby said in this interview need not mean much. He was asked about Pip, and he gave a courteous answer.

Andrew Laird
29 Posted 18/06/2013 at 11:55:32

Give him a 'high Vis' jacket and put him in the main stand, he would then be able to show off his leadership skills through his main asset of pointing and shouting.

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