Everton legend may have dropped hint over future ambitions after stepping out of the shadows
Given that Leighton Baines is the favorite player of a generation of Everton fans, there is a lot about him that is not Everton.
Everton is known for their strong and direct playing style. The long-held belief about Goodison Park is that it performs best when it is derided. When everything works together, the Blues have a refreshing rawness to them.
What about Baines? Coolness, grace, and composure are the words that come to mind. He arrived, performed his magic, gave the fans a thumbs up, and went home. That is not to say Baines was not up for the challenge; the left-back was simply outstanding. So frequently the ice to the Everton fire,
der David Moyes.
With 420 appearances and 39 goals for the club, fans came to know the left-back well. However, very little is known about Baines the coach.He retired in somewhat unpleasant and regretful circumstances. The Everton defender, 35, played his final game for the club during the Covid outbreak, against AFC Bournemouth in July 2020.
Before the game, fans were aware that he had been given a one-year contract extension, but no agreement had been reached. So when Carlo Ancelotti brought him on as a substitute late in the match against the Cherries, it appeared to be the end.
The decision was later confirmed, and considering Baines’ activities outside of football, it appeared that this would be his final appearance at Goodison Park.
Instead, he was promptly rehired by the club’s coaching staff to work with the young team, and he has since been promoted to the position of Under-18s manager.
Evertonians can take comfort in knowing that one of their best Premier League players is in charge of developing the next generation of players. Throughout his career, he established standards for professionalism, fitness, and consistency that any outstanding athlete should strive for.
The signs are that such traits will carry over into his teaching, as Baines appears to be making his impression. A difficult previous season, in which they placed 11th in the Under 18s Premier League north, concluded with an 8-0 victory over Newcastle United, and the goals have continued to flow this season.
They are now in fourth place, having won three of their past four games 3-2. One of those came against Liverpool in a thrilling mini-derby victory, with the young Blues scoring twice in stoppage time to turn the game around.
But will Baines stick with youth football? Well, it’s not really clear.
Under-18s coaching could be the extent of his goals. Perhaps, as a player, he would be prepared to reject off other opportunities in order to maintain his close ties to the Blues.
On the other hand, it would not be surprising if he aspired to become a senior head coach. Last year, he was connected with the Plymouth Argyle post currently held by former teammate Wayne Rooney.
Baines has never publicly discussed his coaching aims. He has a reputation for being media shy. A rare interview with the club’s in-house media crew was released on Tuesday, leading up to the FA Youth Cup match against Nottingham Forest on Wednesday night at Goodison Park.
Baines, of course, is under no duty to speak with any media. However, when compared to his predecessors Paul Tait and Kevin Sheedy, he goes on the record much more frequently to preview and critique games. If his goals extend beyond academy football, he will need to confront it more frequently.
For the time being, it does not appear that the leap will occur. It would not have escaped him that past Everton coaches such as David Unsworth and Duncan Ferguson have left Finch Farm with high reputations and struggled at other clubs.
Even for the laid-back left-back, reaching a milestone like 40 will undoubtedly prompt thoughts about the next chapter.
If it is to be elsewhere and at a higher position, the media-shy Baines may need to make some incursions into the spotlight. Perhaps we will see more Everton interviews in the future, as he has two ‘An Evening with Leighton Baines’ events scheduled for January 2025.
But what if he stays at Everton to help develop the academy? Nobody of the royal blue persuasion is likely to object.
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