BREAKING NEWS

Managerial Changes 

The football world was shaken this week as dramatic changes swept through both Goodison Park and Deepdale.

On the evening of March 13, 2002, after Everton fell to a heartbreaking 3–0 defeat away at Middlesbrough, the club decided to part ways with manager Walter Smith. At the time, Everton were teetering dangerously close to the relegation zone, with only one win in their last thirteen league games. Hopes had begun to fade, despite Smith’s best efforts over his four years at the helm.

Everton’s campaign, up to this point, had been a real slog: goals had dried up, the defense looked shaky, and the Toffees languished just above the drop zone. The decision didn’t shock many fans—instead, it brought both worry and a flicker of hope.

Just a day later, on March 14, the footballing circus turned its attention to Deepdale, where Preston’s players awoke to the stunning news that David Moyes had been appointed as Everton’s new manager. Moyes, who had led Preston to an impressive fourth-place finish in the previous Championship season and was again pushing his side up the table, was set to take the leap to Premier League management.

At the time of Moyes’ departure on March 14, 2002, Preston North End were sitting 8th in the Championship, only just outside the playoff spots and still dreaming of promotion. Their run had been a mix of gutsy wins and hard-fought draws, emblematic of the fight Moyes had instilled in the squad over the past few seasons—as well as his ability to get the best out of players like Julien.

With Moyes gone and his own contract at Everton running until 2005, it’s anyone’s guess what the future holds. Will he get his shot at Premier League football next year, perhaps under his old boss?

See you next time with the focus on Julien's 2001/02 season