Marcel Brands - Former Everton Director Of Football

Marcel Brands became Everton’s Director of Football in June 2018.

The Dutchman had established a reputation for developing players and building clubs, overseeing PSV Eindhoven’s charge to three Eredivisie titles in four seasons having previously been instrumental in transforming the fortunes of RKC Waalwijk and AZ Alkmaar.

In his role as technical director at RKC Waalwijk, he appointed Martin Jol as manager in 1998 and, despite operating on one of the lowest budgets in the Eredivisie, RKC rose to within touching distance of qualification for European football.

In 2005 Brands assumed a similar role at AZ Alkmaar and, working with Louis van Gaal, consolidated on second and third-place finishes in 2006 and 2007 respectively to secure the Eredivisie title in 2009.

Playing fluid, passing football, AZ became the first Dutch side outside the traditional ‘Big Three’ powerhouses of Ajax, Feyenoord and PSV Eindhoven to win the title in 28 years.

In 2010 Brands was lured to PSV and tasked with refocussing the team’s transfer strategy and underperforming academy while extending the scouting network.

Building one of the youngest teams ever to win the Eredivisie, Brands helped PSV to sustained success with back-to-back titles in 2014/15 and 2015/16, followed up with the Dutch team’s 24th Eredivisie title in 2017/18, clinched with an emphatic 3-0 home win over Ajax.

“It is a privilege to be joining Everton as Director of Football and I am incredibly excited to take on this challenge,” said Brands at the time of his appointment.

“The fantastic passion of the fans for their Club, the magnificent history of the Club over the years and the ambition and purpose we have as people tasked with driving the Club forward all mean that we need to be competing for honours against the Premier League elite.

“It is no straightforward challenge but this must be our motivation each and every day.”

On 8th January, Everton announced Marcel had joined the Board Of Directors, with Denise Barrett-Baxendale stating "Marcel has begun his work delivering the club's long-term permanent football strategy, working closely with Academy director Joel Waldron and head of football strategy Richard Battle. "It fills me with great pride to announce Marcel's appointment to the Everton board. This appointment further cements the importance and permanence of the position of Director of Football within our structure."

On 21st April 2021, Marcel agreed a new 3 year deal with the club.

However, on Sunday 5th December 2021, Marcel left Everton, leaving the following message: "On Friday, following a personal conversation with the Chairman and my fellow Board members, we agreed that I would step down from my post as Director of Football and as a member of the Everton Football Club Board."

"This decision has taken some time and some consideration and was one of the most difficult I have faced in my career. The Board and I agreed that there is a clear difference in the vision and direction for this beautiful club and, with that in mind, the decision was taken."

"I want to thank everyone in the Club who I have worked closely with over the last three and a half years. There are a lot of talented people at Everton with huge passion and commitment to move the Club forward, both on and off the pitch. I want to wish all of the squad every success, and I am convinced that there is enough quality to improve the current situation quickly."

"It has been an honour for me to work at this fantastic club and I wish everyone associated with Everton the very best for the future."

Source: Everton FC