Everton Managerial Links: Who is Paulo Fonseca?

Sam Allardyce’s days at Finch Farm are limited. Everton are linked with a couple managers, the most prominent being Paulo Fonseca of FC Shakhtar Donetsk.

Sam Allardyce should be departing Everton in the summer after only signing an 18-month contract in late November. We explore the background of Paulo Fonseca from FC Shakhtar Donetsk, who has been linked with the club.

Despite Everton’s extremely poor form as of late, it seems the intention of the board when hiring Allardyce in November was that of a short-term mindset. He was not their first choice by any stretch of the imagination.

Big Sam has managed 13 Premier League matches for Everton since his arrival, producing four wins, four draws and five losses. Another lackluster match away to Watford last weekend sums up his tenure as manager.

Although there have been numerous links to the Everton job for next season, Paulo Fonseca seems the most likely in recent times.

Many know him as the manager of FC Shakhtar Donetsk, who wore a Zorro mask in a Champions League Press Conference.

However, he is not generally a household name. So, who is Paulo Fonseca?

Playing Career

Fonseca plied his trade as a central defender for 14 years through 249 appearances in the Portuguese leagues. He began his senior playing career at F.C. Barreirense in the third division, after his promotion from the youth setup.

In 1995, he transferred to FC Porto, but never saw the pitch. The club loaned him three years in a row until a subsequent transfer to Vitória S.C.

Fonseca capped off his playing career with C.F. Estrela da Amadora from 2000 to 2005. Three seasons with Estrela occurred in the Portuguese second division.

Management Career

Fonseca began management immediately following his retirement as a player for the Estrela youth teams in 2005. He got his first chance at first-team football at Sociedade União 1º de Dezembro in 2007.

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He managed a handful of other clubs until the Portuguese giants FC Porto contacted him in 2013. Substandard results saw the club sitting in third place, which led to his replacement in the middle of his first season in charge.

In the 2015-2016 season, Fonseca led S.C. Braga to fourth place in the Portuguese first division and won the domestic cup. He then signed a two-year deal with FC Shakhtar Donetsk through the 2017-2018 season.

While Fonseca has led somewhat of a nomadic career, the statistics speak for themselves.

According to thefinalball.com, Fonseca has managed 79 matches for Shakhtar with 61 wins, eight draws and nine losses. Out of his 61 wins, 12 have been in European competition.

Furthermore, he boasts close to a 51 percent win percentage across his entire management career. Through 432 matches, he has won 220.

Final Thoughts

Fonseca is a bright young manager who implements an attractive attacking brand of football. He has no problem taking the match to the “bigger” teams, with notable wins this season against Roma and Manchester City in the Champions League.

Everton’s biggest issue this season has been creating chances and scoring goals, which makes him an attractive choice. There are a shortage of managers in world football the club can realistically recruit with a better record and similar potential.

The Toffees are in desperate need of a fresh face and new ideas at Finch Farm. Fonseca can be the man to give it to them.

Next: Alarming statistics under Sam Allardyce

What is your take on the possibility of Fonseca as the next Everton manager? Would you be on board with the appointment or against it, and why? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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