Everton: ‘Rafael Benitez appointment is Farhad Moshiri’s most risk-loaded move yet’

This appointment has all the hallmarks of Moshiri, although it is understood his business associate Alisher Usmanov, who is involved in sponsorship of various arms of Everton, also approves.

As he said in his statement on Benitez’s appointment, Moshiri needs a manager to bring him the rewards for his vast financial outlay and is unswerving in his belief he finally has the right man.

Moshiri has shown two sides to his character since taking a major stake in Everton in February 2016.

He has demonstrated a reactive instinct, by sacking Roberto Martinez after witnessing how Everton fans turned on a once popular figure by brandishing banners and staging sit-down protests after matches, then dismissing his successor Ronald Koeman only nine league games into the Dutchman’s second season after he had taken the club into Europe in his first campaign.

Moshiri has also followed his own path irrespective of fan concerns, and maybe even concerns in his own boardroom. He did it when appointing Sam Allardyce for a joyless six-month reign in November 2017, but he has trumped everything by going all in on Benitez.

He believes Benitez has the pedigree and experience to finally spark Everton, as well as the ice-cold, single-mindedness to shrug off what will initially be a mixed reception – at best.

Moshiri has been hugely impressed with Benitez in several rounds of talks and will have taken soundings elsewhere, noting how he rose above more hostility when he arrived as Chelsea’s interim manager in November 2012 to guide them to the Europa League and third place in the Premier League.

Koeman and Ancelotti fell into his ‘Hollywood’ manager category. Marco Silva was the up-and-coming Mourinho-lite. Allardyce was an act of panic in an emergency.

Benitez is, in Moshiri’s eyes, the tried and trusted Premier League operator who can bring years of experience and an analytical, tactical mind to Everton.

This is Moshiri’s most risk-loaded move yet. It could prove unexpectedly, surprisingly inspired – or have the capacity to become toxic.