Everton 101

On Saturday, July 23, D.C. United welcomes Everton Football Club into RFK Stadium for the first time in its history. This international friendly will mark a meeting between two of the most historic organizations on either side of the Atlantic. Everton was established in 1878 as a founding member of the Football League in the city of Liverpool. Since its inception, the club has played more topflight fixtures than any other club in English football history.

The Toffees have won nine First Division championships to accompany five FA Cup titles. More recently, Everton qualified for the 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 UEFA Cup, the 2009-2010 Europa League, and the club was runner-up to Chelsea in the 2009 FA Cup Final.  The team is coming off a seventh place finish in the Premiership, and looks to be gunning for Europe once again as the players prepare for the upcoming English campaign. 

KNOW YOUR HISTORY

Founded in 1878, Everton has remained in England’s top division since 1954, and the club was a founding member of the Premier League in 1992. The Liverpool-based side has won nine League championships, the fourth highest total in England, with its most recent title coming in the 1986-1987 season. Everton’s last major honor came in 1995 when the club won the FA Cup against Manchester United.

Most notably, renowned English football legend William ‘Dixie’ Dean played for 14 seasons, in which he compiled 349 goals in 399 appearances with the Toffees. In the 1927-1928 season, Dean scored an astounding 60 goals – a record that still stands today. Dean won two League championships and an FA Cup while with Everton.

Everton's most successful era came in the 1980's under manager Howard Kendall. Everton claimed the FA Cup in 1984 to go alongside League titles in 1984-1985 and 1986-1987. The club secured its first and only major European trophy in 1985, when Everton took home the European Cup Winners' Cup with a victory over Rapid Vienna of Austria (Branko Boskovic's former club). 

THE MOYES ERA

David Moyes
dcunited.com

More recently, the club has experienced great success under Manager David Moyes. The Glasgow native recently celebrated his ninth anniversary managing Everton, trailing only Manchester United’s Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsenal’s Arsene Wenger in Premier League longevity. Since Moyes’ appointment in 2002, Everton earned a fourth place finish in 2004-2005, allowing the club to enter the UEFA Champions League.

The Toffees qualified for the 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 UEFA Cup, the 2009-2010 Europa League, and Everton was runner-up to Chelsea in the 2009 FA Cup Final on Moyes’ watch.

THE PLAYERS

United fans will be familiar with Everton’s goalkeeper, as U.S. National Team stalwart Tim Howard anchors the Toffees’ backline. The New Jersey native began his professional career in Major League Soccer with the MetroStars in 1998, before leaving for Manchester United in 2003. Howard was loaned to Everton for the 2006-2007 Premier League campaign, paving the way for a permanent stay on Merseyside.

Everton boasts other top names in English football, including top goal-scorer Louis Saha and Australian striker Tim Cahill. Phil Neville captains Everton, as the defender has been with the club since 2005 following a ten-year stay with Manchester United. Neville also holds over 50 international appearances for England. 28-year-old Spanish midfielder Mikel Arteta brings flair and guile to the club, having played for Rangers, Real Sociedad, and Paris Saint-Germain throughout his career.

English fullback Leighton Baines is attack-minded and finished last season with five goals and 11 assists. Emerging stars Seamus Coleman (Ireland) and Jack Rodwell (England) are also making names for themselves domestically and for their respective national sides. 

2010-2011 RECAP

Everton was led to a seventh place finish in the English Premier League behind a team-high nine League goals from Tim Cahill as well as eight and seven goals from Jermaine Beckford and Louis Saha, respectively. The club finished with a final Premier League record of 13-15-10 (54 points).

Veteran defender Phil Neville appeared in 31 League games for the Toffees and has provided leadership and experience to the club since transferring from Manchester United in 2005. American goalkeeper Tim Howard started all 38 League games for Everton, earning nine clean sheets and posting a 1.18 GAA in 3,420 minutes of Premier League action.