Everton are looking to solve their annual injury crisis with a key new hire as the club continues to modernise under the Friedkin Group.
The club is seeking a Physical Performance Coach to help the first team players improve their fitness and reduce the risk of injuries in an already overstretched first team squad.
The role, says the club, will report into Head of Sport Science Jack Naylor, who joined under former Director of Football Kevin Thelwell in 2022.
Everton says the new hire will work with the first team and manage overall physical performance of the players to improve ‘athletic development’ and reduce the risk of injury.
The club says: “Day-to-day operations are focussed on delivering the footballing performance vision and strategy, both on the pitch and in the gym for all Men’s first team players.
“Reporting directly into our Head of Sports Science, the Physical Performance Coaches lead the planning and delivery of all aspects of physical performance across our first team, maximising performance, promoting athletic development, and reducing the risk of injury.”
The new hire will also “work in a trans-disciplinary manner with the wider performance team in returning players to performance” and help to “shape and deliver throughout the rehabilitation process.”
Naylor, who worked with Carlo Ancelotti at Chelsea, Real Madrid and PSG before joining Celtic, said: “This one is important…to the players, to the coaches and to shaping the future of this club.
“If you have walked the walk, know what works (and what doesn’t!) and can apply it creatively amongst the constraints of an elite sporting environment to get results, we want to hear from you.”
Everton have been struck by several key injuries this year. Defender Jarrad Branthwaite has not played a minute of Premier League football this season, while Keirnan Dewsbury-Hall is out until February with a long term injury.
Minor injuries to the likes of Merlin Rohl, Tim Iroegbunam, Nathan Patterson, Michael Keane, Jack Grealish and others have also left David Moyes’ squad stretched at times this season.