Scott Phelan Becomes Permanent Head Coach Of Everton

Scott Phelan has been appointed permanent Head Coach of Everton Women following a successful interim period in the role.

Phelan took the reins on a temporary basis in February after the departure of Brian Sorensen and led the Toffees to a strong second half of the Women’s Super League season to finish eighth place in the table.

Phelan will be supported by coach Phil Jevons, the former Everton striker having initially returned to the Club on an interim basis in February. Additional updates on the structure of Phelan’s backroom staff will be confirmed in due course.

Phelan made an impressive start as the Blues’ caretaker boss, guiding Everton to three consecutive league victories – away to London City Lionesses and Tottenham, while seeing off West Ham United at Goodison Park.

Everton Academy Player of the Year in 2005 and former captain of the Blues’ Under-21s, he began coaching with the Club after a playing career as a midfielder which included spells at Bradford City and Halifax Town.

“I am unbelievably proud to be given this role,” Phelan told evertontv. “My time at Everton has spanned a long time and to have the opportunity to lead our Women’s team as head coach is something I do not take for granted. I am excited and am looking forward to what’s ahead.

“I started at Everton at eight years of age at Bellefield, the old training ground. I stayed within the Academy, signed professional when I was 17, and then got released at 19.

“I continued to play until I was 24 and then got an opportunity to return as a coach in the Academy with the boys. I worked my way up through the age groups from 10 to 18.

“Now, I have got this opportunity to work with our Women’s team and it’s an amazing opportunity. We want to push forward and trying to get back to the place where we believe Everton Football Club should be, and that's towards the top end of the table.”

Maz Pacheco’s 96th-minute winner against Leicester City last month ensured Phelan’s Blues concluded their historic inaugural season at Goodison Park on a high.

The move to the Grand Old Lady has seen the Blues boast the fifth highest attendance in the WSL – behind only regular top-four league finishers Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United – with Phelan eager to keep making progress at the iconic stadium.

“We are really fortunate to play at Goodison Park,” said Phelan. “Not every club within the WSL has the privilege of playing at a stadium like we do, not just in terms of size, but actually the history and tradition that Goodison has.

“We want to make sure we continue to play with a style and a purpose that good Everton teams at Goodison Park have always brought.

“Everton teams play with purpose, energy and enthusiasm in a way the fans can relate to.

“Pushing closer to the top of the table might take a little bit of time but they are certainly our aspirations. That is what we want this progress to be: aspirational for everybody, where we can push, where we can enjoy, and there's a feeling of growth. We definitely want to try to bring that so we can improve and get better and better.”

On Phelan’s appointment, Everton Technical Director, Nick Cox, said: “We are delighted to appoint Scott as permanent head coach of Everton Women.

"Following a thorough and extensive process conducted since February, Scott proved the standout candidate. That was highlighted by the excellent job he did during his interim period, which included securing three straight WSL victories in his opening trio of matches, helping the team to climb the table, all while playing an exciting brand of football that players, staff and fans got behind.

“The Club and our owners place great importance on our Women’s team and, with Scott as our permanent head coach, we are looking forward to making further progress in our second season at Goodison Park.”