Everton F.C.

Everton Football Club are an English football club from the city of Liverpool, founded in 1878. They are one of the most successful clubs in English football, having played more seasons in the top division (103 of a possible 107) and won more points in the top division than any other team.

The 1990s: Few Highs and Many Lows

The 1990s was perhaps the least eventful decade of the 20th century in the history of Everton football club. It began on a low note in November 1990 when Colin Harvey, who had never proved himself as a top manager, made way for the returning Howard Kendall - but the return of the great manager made little difference to the club's playing fortunes. He quit again in 1993-94, when Everton narrowly escaped relegation from the Premier League, and his successor Mike Walker lasted less than a year. By now, the great squad of the 1980's had been effectively eroded - only Neville Southall and Dave Watson remained. Instead, Everton's squad was made up of ungainly players like Brett Angell and Matt Jackson.

Related Topics:
Brett Angell - Matt Jackson

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For a while it looked like new manager Joe Royle, appointed in October 1994, was in the process of re-establishing Everton as a footballing force. In 1995 Everton recorded one of their greatest cup achievements, conceding only one goal (from the penalty spot) en route to winning the FA Cup for the fifth time, defeating Manchester United 1-0 in the final. But Everton's sub-standard league form returned in 1997 and he left to make way for Howard Kendall, whose third and final spell as manager ended after just one season in which Everton avoided relegation only on goal difference.

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Two more years of monotony, under new manager Walter Smith, followed until the decade, mercifully for Everton, ended. Smith, who had won seven successive Scottish titles with Glasgow Rangers - including two doubles and a treble, had initially been expected to bring back success to Goodison but was unable to do so for the hampering of financial constraints and frequent injuries to players. It seemed Everton would never again reach their former giddy heights.

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