Irvine Appointed As Academy Manager

Former Everton player and assistant manager Alan Irvine is to return to Goodison Park as manager of the Academy side, after Ray Hall announced his intention to retire at the end of the 2011/12 season.

Irvine, 53, will bring a wealth of experience to the Academy set up, having played professionally for 15 years and worked in youth football at Blackburn and Newcastle.

The role will be Irvine's third at the club. He joined Everton as a player in 1981, going on to make 79 appearances in royal blue before moving on to Crystal Palace. He returned in 2002 as an understudy to David Moyes and enjoyed a successful second stint at Goodison before leaving in order to take up the vacant managerial role at Preston North End.

In his first season at Deepdale he steered Preston safely away from the threat of relegation, and in his first full term he guided the Lancashire outfit into the play-offs, where they were narrowly beaten by Sheffield United.

After two successful seasons at Preston he was sacked after a run of results that saw Preston win just once in ten games, although fans were outraged at the decision after the successes of the previous season. Irvine then went on to manage Sheffield Wednesday but was given the chop by Milan Mandaric in February of 2011.

He will now return to Everton, and David Moyes extended a huge welcome to his colleague, whilst praising the job of Irvine's predecessor Ray Hall, who will stay at the club as an 'international ambassador'.

Speaking to evertonfc.com, Moyes said: "I am delighted that someone of the calibre of Alan Irvine has agreed to re-join the club. Once we knew Alan was available it made sense to bring him in as soon as possible and make the change quicker than expected.

"Ray has done a terrific job during his time with the academy and we are delighted that he has agreed to play an active part in the handover and that he will remain an important part of the set-up for a further three years.

"I would also like to formally welcome Alan back to Everton. He is someone who knows the club very well, we know him very well and we're all looking forward to working with him. He will bring a great deal of experience to the role."

Welcome home Alan Irvine.