Nuno Espirito Santo has left Nottingham Forest, but he could have landed a job at Everton.
The Toffees are far from needing a manager at the moment, following the success of David Moyes.
For once, Everton are in a position of solidity, not having to worry about a manager departing, following four different names at the helm in the last four years.
Graham Potter could have joined Everton instead of the Scotsman returning, but it’s safe to say the right choice was made.
But in the past, Espirito Santo could have been the main man, but talks collapsed over a bizarre reason involving James Rodriguez.
Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo.
Photo by MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Nuno Espirito Santo didn’t get Everton job in 2021 because he wanted to keep James Rodriguez
The Portuguese manager was a revelation at Forest, but due to his relationship with owner Evangelos Marinakis, he was relieved of his duties.
Everton suddenly look in a much better position than the side that had a remarkable campaign last season, but the Toffees’ past failures could have been changed with the appointment of the departing Forest boss.
Journalist Paul Brown, speaking to GIVEMESPORT in September 2021, told the outlet how close Espirito Santo was to completing a move as manager before Rafa Benitez was confirmed.
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“Nuno thought he had the job at Everton and then suddenly didn’t,” Brown said.
“I think one of the reasons for that is because Nuno wanted James (Rodriguez) to stay and would have made him more of a key part of his plan.”
The Colombian star was a success in his one season at Goodison Park, but ultimately, Rodriguez wanted to leave Everton, and the board didn’t seem to be keen on the idea of keeping him around despite his quality under Carlo Ancelotti.
Benitez doomed Rodriguez from the start as soon as he came in, and had Nuno been appointed, things could have been a lot different.
But during the talks to try and appoint the former Wolves boss, a familiar name almost made a return earlier than expected.
David Moyes almost returned to Everton earlier amid Nuno Espirito Santo talks in 2021
It’s safe to say that had Espirito Santo been appointed at the club he could have been a big success following his work with the Tricky Trees.
James Tarkowski wants Everton to emulate Forest this season in getting to Europe, as the Portuguese coach could have achieved this with the Blues.
But another name circulating around this period was Moyes himself, as according to BBC Sport, the Scot could have also been Ancelotti’s successor.
Farhad Moshiri was impressed with both candidates, but somehow it was Benitez who came out on top, in what could have been a big change to the club’s past.