Frank Lampard has enjoyed a mixed start to life at Everton after being announced as manager on the final day of January.
Chelsea’s all-time record goalscorer has taken charge for four matches, winning home games against Brentford and Leeds and losing away at Newcastle and Southampton.
Despite the inconsistency, he appears to have the backing of a large portion of the supporters as well as former Everton physio, Mick Rathbone.
The 63-year-old had two spells on the blue half of Merseyside, serving as head physio between 2002 and 2010 and returning to work with the youth team between 2018 and 2021, and the club left such an impression on him that they are still the first result he looks for at the weekend.
“I think Frank Lampard is a great appointment,” said Rathbone, who goes by the nickname of ‘Baz’ after the former Sherlock Holmes actor, Basil Rathbone.
He believes Lampard as manager, and the people he has brought with him, matches his perception of the club, saying: “I think Everton suit British staff and the club thrives on its Britishness.
“That’s not to say Ancelotti wasn’t a great appointment but I prefer it when there’s British people in charge and it feels right.”
Rathbone, who is currently helping out at Preston North End, also sees the hunger in the new Everton boss and thinks this can only benefit the Toffees going forward.
“I think Frank Lampard probably doesn’t ‘need’ the job,” he said.
“The fact he’s coming all the way from a beautiful life and environment in West London to work under some pressure tells me he must be super, super committed so I’m impressed with that.”
Everton find themselves in 16th position in the table after the disastrous reign of Rafael Benitez came to an end in January.
But Rathbone believes ‘they’ll be okay’ and thinks Anthony Gordon, who he worked with during his second spell at the club, is now a vital part of the team.
He said: “I’m so glad to see Anthony Gordon – AKA ‘Soft Lad’ as I named him all those years ago – doing well.
“I thought he was an exceptional player and I’m so glad they gave him that chance and persevered with him and now I think he’s accepted as a first team player and would be picked on that merit.
“He’s a great kid, big Evertonian obviously and I think he’s a really good player.”
Rathbone has just left Salford City and has recently published his second book, The Smell of Football 2.
