Everton names Marcel Brands director of football

Former PSV sporting director Marcel Brands was appointed Everton's director of football on Wednesday, and the Dutchman's first order of business is to find Sam Allardyce's successor after the veteran gaffer was sacked earlier in the day.

The Toffees' statement announcing the arrival of Brands said he "has established a reputation for developing players and building clubs."

Brands, 56, takes over for former Leicester City scouting savant Steve Walsh, who accepted the job at Goodison Park in 2016 after playing an integral role in the Foxes' shock Premier League title.

Recently crowned Eredivisie champ as a part of PSV's backroom staff, Brands joins new chief executive Denise Barrett-Baxendale, who was named Robert Elstone's replacement Tuesday.

Brands also enjoyed success with RKC Waalwijk and AZ Alkmaar. The latter captured Dutch league honours in 2009.

"It is a privilege to be joining Everton as director of football and I am incredibly excited to take on this challenge," Brands said. "... We need to be competing for honours against the Premier League elite. It is no straightforward challenge but this must be our motivation each and every day."