‘Hungry to get started’: Frank Lampard confirmed as Everton manager

Frank Lampard has said is “very hungry to get started” after being confirmed as Everton’s manager on a contract to 2024 and has told his players that he expects “fight and desire” at all times.

Lampard will take charge of the team for the first time in Saturday’s FA Cup tie at home to Brentford after being selected by the board to replace the sacked Rafael Benítez.

“It is a huge honour for me to represent and manage a club the size and tradition of Everton Football Club,” the former Chelsea manager said. “I’m very hungry to get started. After speaking to the owner, chairman and the board, I very much felt their passion and ambition. I hope they felt my ambition and how hard I want to work to bring it together.

“You can feel the passion Everton fans have for their club. That will be hugely important. As a team – the competitive level that the Premier League brings and the position we are in the table – we certainly need that. It’s a two-way thing. I think Everton is a unique club in that you can really understand what the fans want to see. The first thing they want is fight and desire and that must always be our baseline.

“My first message to the players will be that we have to do this together. We’ll try to do our job and I know the fans will be there backing us.”

Donny van de Beek is poised to be confirmed as his first signing, the midfielder joining on loan from Manchester United.

Everton’s majority shareholder, Farhad Moshiri, described Lampard as “an impressive young man and off the pitch” who had “impressed us all greatly during the thorough interview process”.

More details to follow