Kevin Mirallas signs new three-year deal at Everton FC

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: Everton Football Club

Roberto Martinez believes that the goalscoring threat and attacking talent of Kevin Mirallas will contribute greatly to Everton’s objectives this season, with the Belgium international having agreed a new deal to last until June 2018.

The 27-year-old forward, who signed from Olympiakos in 2012, became the second player to commit his future to the club in 24 hours after James McCarthy penned a new deal to June 2020, and the Everton manager is convinced that both players will be cornerstones of the upcoming campaign.

Roberto commented: “We all know the goalscoring threat and talent that Kevin brings to the team and it was very important to end the uncertainty regarding the next step in his career.

“To say I am delighted is an understatement. What this means is that Kevin has chosen Everton for the next chapter in his career and, as you can imagine, his potential impact and contribution will be a major part of what we are trying to achieve.

“That continuity in our squad and renewed focus will provide the strong platform on which we will build the 2015/16 campaign.”

Mirallas has scored 29 goals in 85 starts and 25 substitute appearances for the Toffees, including 11 goals in 24 starts last season.

Kevin said: “I’m really happy to commit three more years to the club. I’ve always been happy here; this is my team and my family is settled here, too, so it was a very easy decision when I sat down with the manager and the chairman.

“My goal is to help the team, and our objectives are to aim as high as we can. This is a club that wants to win trophies and compete in European competition, and the fans could not be more supportive in helping us to achieve these goals.

“The fans are a huge part of this club, and I hope they are as pleased as I am to have committed my future here.”

Tributes to Sir Philip Carter

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: Everton Football Club

Bill Kenwright, Chairman of Everton Football Club, commented: “Words cannot describe my feelings of loss primarily as a friend but also as an Evertonian. Sir Philip was simply a giant...a great man a great leader and the very best friend and colleague anyone could ask for. I never once met him without calling him Chairman. I never will. That title was his by right. He will always have a major place in our great club's history. To his wondrous Lady Rita and his family we send the deepest of condolences together with our undying love and gratitude for his life.”

Roberto Martinez, Manager of Everton Football Club, added: “This is a sad day for Everton Football Club and for every Evertonian. Sir Philip was an incredible custodian of the Club, a pure gentleman and a man I feel really fortunate to have met, for I learnt much about the essence of Everton from him. From my earliest days here, I was able to sit down and chat with Sir Philip at Finch Farm. He was generous with his time and with his recollection of so many of the experiences he went through as Chairman. Some of those moments had been extremely difficult but, ultimately, his guiding hand contributed to some of the Club’s greatest successes and, for me personally, the conversations we shared will always give me guidance in terms of the future that we are trying to build for Everton.

“As a man, he was an example for every Evertonian. He took pride in all aspects of our Club, he loved the community in which we are rooted and he was an Evertonian through and through. I got a real sense and understanding of Everton from the time I was able to spend with him and I am especially grateful for this. He will forever be part of the history of this great Club.”

Robert Elstone, Chief Executive of Everton Football Club, said: “In the last few hours, the world of football has been moved to express great sadness, great admiration and, above all else, great respect for Sir Philip Carter. In such a short space of time, the number of people who have been moved to contact me, and the Club, and the depth of feelings expressed, sums up the great man. One text reads, ‘true gentlemen and the perfect embodiment of the values of Everton’. They are right.

“Sir Philip was part of a small family of highly respected and universally loved ‘football men’; a man who shaped the Game, a man who shaped Everton, and a man who, over the past year, almost everyone I have met has asked about.

“On a personal level, he was a mentor, a confidant, a voice of reason but more than all of that, with his amazing wife, a great friend. Sir Philip left a lasting impression on anyone who entered the Everton Boardroom. He will leave one on me.”

Denise Barrett-Baxendale, Chief Executive of Everton In The Community and Deputy Chief Executive of Everton Football Club, stated: “Today is an unbelievably sad day for everybody at Everton Football Club and for everybody at Everton In The Community. Sir Philip was the ultimate community man - a gentleman, a people’s man, someone with wisdom, character, distinction and strong, abiding principles. What he did for this Club, this city, this community, this country has left a lasting legacy. But today we feel bereft. Our thoughts are with his family - the incredible Lady Rita, his children and grandchildren. We are all devastated by his passing.”

For further tributes, visit www.evertonfc.com/news/2015/04/23/tributes-to-sir-philip.