Everton caretaker manager David Unsworth is unlikely to keep the job after Watford clash... history is against first time bosses in the Premier League

  • History is against Everton's rookie boss David Unsworth getting the job full-time
  • Of last 11 Premier League newbies only Ricky Sbragia wasn't relegated or sacked
  • The last first-timer, Craig Shakespeare, was fired just 10 matches into season

History is against Everton's interim boss David Unsworth getting the job at Goodison Park full-time, with owner Farhad Moshiri aware that 10 of the 11 first-time managers appointed by Premier League clubs in the past decade have been sacked, relegated or both.

Unsworth, who played for the club in two different spells, has his first game in charge at Goodison Park against Watford having presided over three away defeats since Ronald Koeman was dismissed.

He has also been described by pundit Joey Barton as too overweight to be a convincing Premier League manager.

History is against Everton's rookie interim boss David Unsworth getting the job  full-time

History is against Everton's rookie interim boss David Unsworth getting the job full-time

'Any personal insult, be it funny, not meant or really personal, does not interest me and I am not bothered at all. My hurt is with our fans,' said Unsworth.


'I am hurting because we are not winning games and that is really important to me. I'm hurting when I see thousands of fans travel over to Lyon and to Chelsea and Leicester and we don't get the result for them. 

'We need to keep our fans with us and a win against Watford would ease the anxiety certainly. The players need that ray of confidence and to get that confidence rolling.'

Of recent Premier League rookies, only Ricky Sbragia has not been relegated or sacked

Of recent Premier League rookies, only Ricky Sbragia has not been relegated or sacked

Sam Allardyce, who is out of work and believed to fancy the challenge at Goodison, is a leading contender for the vacancy alongside Burnley's Sean Dyche. Ironically, Moshiri's ideal candidate Marco Silva will be in the away dug-out this afternoon.

Gambles on rookies with no previous senior management experience like Unsworth haven't generally worked in the Premier League.

Only Ricky Sbragia at Sunderland hasn't taken his team down or been sacked but he resigned at the end of the 2008/09 season saying the club needed 'a bigger name'.

The last first-timer, Craig Shakespeare, was fired by Leicester last month just 10 matches into a three-year contract. 

The last first-timer, Craig Shakespeare, was fired  just 10 matches into a three-year contract

The last first-timer, Craig Shakespeare, was fired just 10 matches into a three-year contract

WHY EVERTON ARE RELUCTANT TO GAMBLE ON DAVID UNSWORTH

It's rare for Premier League clubs to appoint managers with no previous experience – and no wonder. As our rookies list from the last 10 years shows, it rarely works..

RICKY SBRAGIA (Sunderland 2008-09)

Saved club from relegation after Roy Keane but uncomfortable in the limelight and resigned after survival had been assured, saying the club needed 'a bigger name'.

STEVE KEAN (Blackburn 2010-12)

Lasted 21 turbulent months at Ewood Park before claiming he'd been 'forced to resign'. Endured bitter fans' protests after taking Rovers down into The Championship

STEVE CLARKE (West Brom 2012-13)

Respected No2 with Chelsea and Liverpool, the Scot got his big chance in the Hawthorns hot seat but after a bright start, won just seven of 34 Premier League games in 2013 and was dismissed.

TIM SHERWOOD (Tottenham 2013-14)

Took over from Andre Villas-Boas in December 2013, 'Tactics Tim' was fired at the end of the season despite Spurs finishing sixth. Told players they'd lacked 'guts' after a 4-0 loss at Chelsea

NEIL ADAMS (Norwich City 2014-15)

Failed to keep Norwich up after replacing Chris Hughton in April 2014 and resigned the following January after a 2-0 FA Cup defeat at Preston with the Canaries just outside the play-offs in seventh

MIKE PHELAN (Hull City 2016-17)

Long-time Manchester United No2 lasted only three months as permanent manager at Hull having picked up three points in his last nine games. He'd initially replaced Steve Bruce as caretaker.

GARRY MONK (Swansea 2014-15)

One of the more successful rookies, leading Swansea to their highest Premier League finish, eighth, before things turned sour the following season. Won one in 11 league games before getting the boot

CRAIG SHAKESPEARE (Leicester City 2017)

Had his contract terminated just four months into a three-year contract after a 1-1 draw with West Brom kept Leicester in the relegation zone. Had done well as interim when Claudio Ranieri left

* Managerial first-timers Alan Shearer (Newcastle), John Carver (Newcastle) and Terry Connor (Wolves) were all appointed on short-term contracts in the Premier League and were all relegated

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