Willie Kirk has signed a new contract keeping him in charge of Everton Ladies until June 2023, having guided the Toffees into top five of this season’s FA Women’s Super League.
Kirk took over in December 2018 with Everton in the middle of a relegation scrap but survived in tenth by 15 points after Yeovil were relegated, courtesy of a 10 point deduction for entering administration.
Last season then saw Kirk guide his team to sixth and runners-up of 2019-20 Women’s FA Cup in his first full season in charge after losing to Manchester City in last month’s Final, alongside Assistant Manager – Chris Roberts who has also signed a new two-and-a-half-year deal.
Speaking on his decision to extend his stay at Everton to EvertonTV, Kirk said; “It’s been a really exciting two years. I was very keen to continue that and start piecing together what our future journey looks like.”
Kirk however has iterated that the club’s ambitions were “a huge factor” in him staying as the club currently sits fifth in the WSL, saying; “We want to take the standards at Everton to a completely different level. A higher level than it’s ever been before.
“I am desperate to bring silverware to Everton Women.”
Kirk also stated his desire to one day guide Everton into the Women’s Champions League, although he understands that time and patience are required, as the ex Bristol City Ladies manager said; “There are a lot of building blocks, but that’s what we want to do.”
There was also high praise for the club’s support as Kirk explained, saying; “I came in two years ago and the Club said they were ambitious, that they wanted the women’s team to be fully integrated into USM Finch Farm, that they wanted us to have the best of everything.”
Kirk now feels that they have been “true to their word” and that Everton are likely “ahead of the curve” of where he expected the team to be, although he reiterated that there is no room to “… rest on our laurels, we want to move forward from here.”
His words comes at a time when Everton are looking to unleash new ambition across the whole club, with Kirk feeling “exciting” at the idea of now having worked at the same club as Men’s manager Carlo Ancelotti for a year now.
Kirk also spoke of Everton Men’s U23s manager, David Unsworth “wanting the boys’ Academy to be the best in the world,” and how he is “ambitious” in wanting the same for his Women’s team.
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