Everton under-23 head coach David Unsworth has heaped praise on club legend Leighton Baines for his excellence in his new backroom role at the club.
Baines, who announced his retirement from football in the summer, made more than 400 appearances for the Toffees since 2007 and departed from the squad as a club legend.
In a touching re-integration of the left-back hero into the Toffees, the 35-year-old took up a role as a professional development coach in September to assist the youth staff at Goodison Park in building up the next generation of Evertonian talent.
The former England international has been observing under-23 games this season and was recently spotted deep in conversation with ex-Carlisle centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite after the team’s recent draw at Blackburn Rovers.
Everton youth boss Unsworth spoke openly to the Liverpool Echo about how impressed he has been with Baines, saying:
“Leighton has been a great acquisition to the coaching staff. He brings that end of the job, his role, his responsibilities, which is to work with the individuals and really get to know them off the pitch as well.
“We’re really thankful Leighton is in this role because if anybody is going to go and do that individual work, Leighton is going to go and do it now.
“It’s fantastic that we’ve got another quality member of staff to add to the already existing staff members.
“I’m delighted with Leighton’s work so far and he’ll be crucial with all these young players moving forward. That’s his job.”
Read Everton Verdict
A club hero of Baines’ stature can have a profoundly positive impact at Everton.
Giving the youngsters a chance to work with a man of Baines’ experience and status could represent a fantastic opportunity to learn from a man who knows what it means to be an Evertonian – not to mention what it takes to ‘make it’ at a senior level.
