Everton’s legendary former player and manager Howard Kendall would have celebrated his 77th birthday today.

Born on 22 May 1946 Kendall laid his claim to being Everton’s greatest boss after being appointed in May 1981 and leading the Club to multiple major honours in a six-year period in charge.

He would have two more spells as manager, adding to seven years playing at Goodison Park when he won the 1969/70 league title and formed one third of the Club’s fabled Holy Trinity midfield next to Colin Harvey and Alan Ball.

Watch the video below or click here to hear Kendall – twice a league winning manager and the man who masterminded Everton’s first continental success in the 1984/85 European Cup Winners’ Cup – give his last interview with Club Ambassador and member of Kendall’s 1987 champions Ian Snodin.

Kendall, who died in October 2015, told Snodin why the capture of Trevor Steven from Burnley in 1983 was linked directly to Steve McMahon’s exit for Aston Villa.

Click here for details of how to watch Howard's Way.

Steven would become one of Everton’s finest and most decorated players but Kendall explains why the first signing he made after being prised from Blackburn Rovers was the best of them all.

Neville Southall, related Kendall, never put a foot wrong on his march to becoming the world’s pre-eminent goalkeeper – and Kendall recognised the Welshman’s talent as soon as he clapped eyes on him playing for non-league Winsford United.

Southall might not have come to Everton at all, explained Kendall, had the new manager landed the West Bromwich Albion midfielder he was prepared to spend his entire budget on bringing to the Club after replacing Gordon Lee.

As for the best he played with, Kendall outlined his reasons for placing Alan Ball top of the pile.

Kendall spent the large majority of his Goodison playing career – scoring 30 goals in 277 appearances following his capture from Preston North End in 1967 – under Harry Catterick and he detailed how his fellow twice English champion boss influenced his own brand of management.

Everton’s 1984 FA Cup final victory over Watford paved the way for an unprecedented era of glory and Kendall admitted two players who figured at Wembley represented “gambles” when he brought them to the Club.

Kendall’s Everton regained the title in 1986/87 after claiming the Club’s eighth championship two years earlier.

Those successes sandwiched a season when Everton fell marginally short in both major domestic competitions and Kendall disclosed why selling Gary Lineker featured in his plan to restore the Blues to the pinnacle of English football.

Kendall nevertheless told Snodin about the one regret he harboured over the deal he struck for striker Lineker’s exit to Barcelona.

Listen out, too, for Kevin Sheedy's lovely riposte on being told Kendall wasn't bowled over by the midfielder's work rate when he scouted Sheedy playing for Liverpool reserves.

WATCH HOWARD KENDALL INTERVIEWED BY IAN SNODIN BY CLICKING ABOVE OR VISITING EVERTON'S OFFICIAL YOUTUBE CHANNEL HERE.

Everton - Howard's Way tells the full story of Howard Kendall's glorious trophy-winning team in the 1980s and tales from Merseyside during that era.

Click here for details of how to watch Howard's Way.