At the top of
Roberto Martinez’s to-do list, just a few months into the
Everton job, was to bring back a legend.
The Catalan would promote Duncan Ferguson to his coaching staff and later ensure Joe Royle’s return but first he made it a priority to invite the great Howard Kendall to Finch Farm.
Martinez wanted to make a fuss of him but also to pick the brains of the club’s greatest ever manager, hear his ideas, thoughts and feelings towards Everton and ask him for advice.
Howard had never been to the Blues’ state-of-the-art training facility in the six years it had been open before that day in October 2013 but Martinez wanted him to know it was his home too.
“It was very important because, first of all, to show him the he IS Everton in our eyes,” Martinez told the ECHO.
“We are custodians of a football club that he made what it is today.
“We wanted him to know that he is the life of the football club and that he was always welcome to come in and be around his home.
“But it was also to get that close feeling with the most successful manager in the club’s history and to understand how we can bring those times back to the football club.
“Howard built the football club into one of the leading clubs in European football.”
It was at Finch Farm on Saturday morning that Martinez, the Everton squad and backroom staff were told of Howard’s passing.
Two years to the day Howard was shown around the complex, sat down with Martinez and transfixed everyone he greeted, the club was in grief, mourning his absence.
“We were at Finch Farm, where we always have our pre-match meal, when we heard the news,” the Blues manager said.
“It was a really significant moment.
“You get that shock and sadness but I have never seen such an instant reaction from everyone in the room.
“Howard was such a charismatic figure and someone at Finch Farm on Saturday morning had, in one way or another, been in contact with him in the last few days.
“From that point on you are thinking about the direction he gave to the football club.
“Howard is such an iconic figure and it is difficult to understand that he is not going to be there anymore.”
Howard would attend every Everton home game and was a vocal supporter of Martinez.
The Catalan says he valued any time he got to spend with the great man.
“He was such an open human being and such an approachable person,” he said.
“Straight away you develop a respect towards him, first and foremost, because you know what he achieved.
“I always admired him as a coach.
“His teams were so successful and he managed to understand the demands and the history of the football club.
“To do so you have to be unique, not just special.”
Martinez added: "Howard was also brave.
“He left to go Spain and he managed to develop that same respect in a different language.
“The people of Athletic Bilbao always, always have a special feeling towards him.
“He was a unique football person and human being.
“I had the opportunity to sit down with Howard and share ideas and his experiences from when he went to Spain.
“We also talked about what I was going to have, coming to Everton.
“It was a comfortable opportunity to get information and he always gave me that feeling that everything was going to be okay.”
He didn’t just leave Martinez bowled over but everyone at Finch Farm the day Howard paid a visit.
“When he came to Finch Farm, you could see everyone’s eyes light up,” Martinez said.
“Everyone one from our kit men to the young players.
“Because Howard was a man that touched every single generation of people to represent Everton.
“And he has always been a guide and inspirational figure.”
