Howard Kendall: The man who went back twice and became an Everton legend

Howard Kendall was no stranger to silverware as a manager

HOWARD KENDALL ignored the old footballing adage to never go back. Such was his passion for Everton he went back twice.

 

And it is testament to the magnificent achievements of his first spell as manager in the 1980s that the frustrations of his second and third stints in the following decade never tarnished his legendary status as the most successful manager in the club's history - and one of their greatest players.

He said when he returned to Goodison Park the first time after a short spell with Manchester City: "If City was a love affair, Everton is a marriage."

Like any marriage it certainly wasn't always plain sailing. There were difficult times even in his first spell when early in the 1983-84 season fans wanted him out and voted with their feet - only 13,571 turned up for a home game against Watford in an autumn of discontent.

 

Howard Kendall during one of his three spells at Everton, with coach Colin Henry

But by the end of that season Kendall's magic had started to work with Everton reaching both the League Cup and FA Cup finals - losing the first to Liverpool but beating Watford in the latter to provide the springboard for two League titles and the European Cup Winners' Cup in the next three seasons when they finally emerged from the shadow of Anfield.

Denied by the post-Heysel ban on English clubs in Europe, he left Everton to gain overseas experience with Athletic Bilbao and it was no surprise he was on a short-list of three to succeed Bobby Robson as England boss in 1990.

Sadly, he missed out on the post, just as he did on an England cap in his playing career - one of the finest players never to wear the senior shirt.

I reported on Kendall's second and third spells in charge of his beloved Toffees in the 1990s when he had neither the players or the funds to bring back the glory days.

Frustrated by the lack of cash he resigned his second spell in December 1993 while his third spell in 1997-98 ended with him leaving by mutual consent after Everton had survived relegation on the final day of the season.

His elevated position in Everton's folklore was never in danger however. And quite apart from his managerial abilities - remember he was only 38 when he won his first title in '85 - you couldn't fail to warm to his lively, sociable personality.

Howard was fun to be with - and he made football fun.