David Unsworth has expressed his interest in succeeding Roberto Martinez as the new Everton manager.
Unsworth will team up with former Blues manager Joe Royle again as the pair take temporary charge of Sunday’s Premier League finale with Norwich City following Martinez’s sacking yesterday.
The 42-year-old remains a fan favourite at Goodison Park following two productive spells as a no-nonsense defender and more recently as head of the club’s under-21 side, overseeing the recent development of several first-team players, including Brendan Galloway, Tyias Browning and Kieran Dowell.
New Everton majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri is set to decide on Martinez’s successor in the coming weeks, with Southampton boss Ronald Koeman currently the first-choice candidate while Frank de Boer has also thrown his hat into the ring.
But Unsworth admits that he would relish being given the chance to revive his former club’s fortunes.
He said: “Who wouldn’t want this job?
“I have massive aspirations to be a manager and this is the only place I want to manage.
“I’m just very proud to given the chance for Sunday.
“They’re top managers [Koeman and De Boer], but this is a club that demands it.”
Unsworth took his first session as caretaker manager this morning and paid tribute to the professionalism of the Everton squad following yesterday’s announcement.
And the burly Lancastrian has insisted that his team give Everton supporters something to shout about following a difficult season for the blue half of Merseyside.
“The players responded fantastically in training this morning.”
“There will be a change of mood – it hasn’t been an easy place to play recently. I’ve told them we owe them a performance and we owe them a win.”
“I think the Evertonians will turn out in force and her behind the team we pick. We have to give them something to shout about.”