Everton have sacked Rafael Benitez after just 200 days in charge.
The 61-year-old’s spell in the Goodison Park hot seat ended in Saturday’s humiliating 2-1 defeat to fellow Premier League strugglers Norwich City.
Farhad Moshiri and the Blues’ hierarchy took the decision to dispense with Benitez’s services as they sit just six points clear of the relegation zone.
Benitez’s win record of 26% is the poorest return of an Everton manager since Howard Kendall’s third spell in 1997/98, when they narrowly survived.
“Everton Football Club can confirm the departure of Rafael Benitez as first team manager,” read a club statement.
“Benitez, who joined Everton in June 2021, has left the club with immediate effect. An update on a permanent replacement will be made in due course.”
The one-time Liverpool boss later penned an open letter to Everton fans expressing disappointment at the circumstances behind his departure.
He said: “From the very first day, my staff and myself worked as we always do, with commitment and full dedication, we didn’t only have to get results, but we also had to win over people’s hearts.
“However, the financial situation and then the injuries that followed made things even harder.
“I am convinced that we would have been better once the injured players were back and with the arrival of the new signings.
“The road to success isn’t easy and sadly, nowadays in football there is a search for immediate results and there is always less and less patience.
“Unfortunately circumstances have determined the results and it won’t be possible to continue this project.
“In any case, thank you to the board, to the staff, to the players, and to those fans who have supported us during this time.”