Farhad Moshiri Reflects on Everton Tenure with “Mixed Emotions”

Farhad Moshiri has expressed “mixed emotions” regarding the conclusion of his ownership of Everton, also pondering the club’s potential trajectory had Carlo Ancelotti, who managed Everton from December 2019 to June 2021, continued at Goodison Park. The British-Iranian businessman concluded his period as owner of the Toffees on Thursday, having divested his stake in the club to the Friedkin Group in a transaction reportedly valued at more than £400m. This acquisition has led Everton fan groups to anticipate the future with “hope and optimism,” following a notably turbulent era under Mr. Moshiri’s leadership. During this time, the club experienced strained relations with supporters, frequent changes in management, struggles against relegation, a breakdown in its boardroom structure, penalties of Premier League points deductions, and a financial crisis that brought Everton close to collapse. In an open letter addressed to supporters, Mr. Moshiri admitted to feeling “sorrow when reflecting on the past” after what he described as a “challenging” period on Merseyside, yet asserted that he is leaving the club “in a materially better place” compared to when he took ownership. Moshiri stated, “I fully understand that in football that results on the pitch are paramount and over those same years they frankly haven’t been good enough.” He further added, “We brought top-class managers like Carlo Ancelotti to the club and who knows where we might have been had he not been lured back to his first love Real Madrid.” Mr. Moshiri also conveyed in the letter that he would “feel real pride in” departing Everton with an “iconic stadium” that “all Evertonians, and the wider community, to enjoy for decades and decades to come.” He elaborated, “When I purchased the club eight years ago, I knew it needed to be modernised, both with a new stadium and also at the training ground, which has seen much investment.” Moshiri continued, “I have met the huge costs of those improvements through my ownership, with season ticket prices remaining pretty well the same across my ownership period.” He also stated, “I have tried to minimise the impact on fans with our tickets among the most affordable in the Premier League.” Everton fans had previously protested Farhad Moshiri’s ownership. A statement from the Everton Fan Advisory Board (Fab) indicated that, with the exception of the new stadium development at Bramley-Moore Dock, the period under Moshiri proved to be challenging. Fab remarked, “Our recent history has been clouded by relegation battles, financial uncertainty, failed ownership bids, a leadership vacuum and unjust sporting sanctions.” The board added, “Today’s announcement provides the opportunity for Evertonians to once again look forward with hope and optimism.” Fab expressed that it was “encouraged by the aims and ambitions” articulated by the Friedkin Group subsequent to their takeover. Fab further commented, “Providing clarity and communicating about the road ahead will be essential. We recognise that change will not come overnight.” “We look forward to hearing more about their plans in the coming weeks and months and working alongside them to help achieve their aims of embracing the passion, creativity and values of Evertonians,” Fab concluded.