Brands discusses Everton exit – club are ‘difficult to manage’, hints Moshiri is ‘easy to influence’

Lewis Oldham
Brands speaks on Everton

Marcel Brands has spoken out on his Everton departure, claiming that Farhad Moshiri is “easy to influence”.

Brands became Everton’s director of football in 2018. He replaced Steve Walsh after the latter was relieved of his duties.

The Dutchman was in the role until the end of 2021. He has since returned to Eredivisie side PSV.


Ranking every £10m+ Everton signing post-David Moyes


Moshiri became an Everton stakeholder in 2016 and his shares in the club increased to 94% earlier this year.

The Toffees have not fared well in the transfer market during this period, as they have spent big on the likes of Moise Kean, Davy Klaassen and Yannick Bolasie.

Brands has now suggested that he found the job at Everton “very difficult”:

“I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. It is a wonderful country for football, a wonderful club, but very difficult to manage,” Brands said on working at Everton (via Sport Witness).

“Especially because the owners are very involved, which makes them easy to influence. That makes it very difficult sometimes.

“I think more English clubs suffer from that, but I wouldn’t have missed the experience I gained there for anything. Let’s put it this way; of course, we did good things.

“Only that was also the frustration. You don’t get the grip that is needed to really change things.

“We have made steps internally, in the youth academy and with the transfers from the first year.

“But then you see the impatience, and you fall back after having made steps by simple things. That’s a real shame because it’s a beautiful club with beautiful fans.”

Meanwhile, Tottenham have confirmed the signing of Everton forward Richarlison on a five-year contract.

A statement on the Spurs website read on Friday: “We are delighted to announce the signing of Richarlison from Everton, subject to a work permit. The Brazilian international has signed a contract with us until 2027.”

There were reports that Chelsea had made a late attempt to hijack the deal but in the end they reportedly refused to match the £50m plus £10m in add-ons that Tottenham had offered.