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He doesn't have an agent stirring the pot in the media.

He doesn't have a particularly high profile, or a brother willing to keep his name in the frame at every opportunity.

He doesn't have a magnetic personality, or an outspoken nature. His name is not a romantic one.

And yet it is in the frame, and has been from the moment Roberto Martinez was sacked.

No wonder. When it comes to credentials, Manuel Pellegrini ticks just about every box Everton could want. If the powers that be at Goodison Park are not considering the Chilean as the club's next manager, then they should be.

Track record

Pellegrini's departure from Manchester City earlier this month represented something of a damp squib. Who could forget the empty seats at the Etihad as the 62-year-old said farewell.

His final season must go down as a disappointment, City finishing 15 points behind Leicester, qualifying for the Champions League on goal difference only.

And yet, and yet, they still collected another trophy – beating Liverpool in the League Cup final having squeezed out Everton in the semi's – and they reached the last four of the Champions League for the first time in their history, losing narrowly to Real Madrid.

Failure? Probably, but failure laced with success. Pellegrini leaves Manchester with a league title and two League Cups, and having taken them into the knockout stages in Europe in each of his three seasons. City were beaten by Barcelona twice and Real once.

Of course everything is relative, and City's financial power means that silverware is expected, not than hoped for. Pep Guardiola will be expected to win from the word go, just as Pellegrini was.

Style of play

Pellegrini's three seasons at City brought a guarantee of goals. They were the Premier League's leading scorers each year, breaking the 100-goal mark in his first season.

No great surprise perhaps, given the presence of Sergio Aguero, Yaya Toure, David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne, among others, but City's commitment was always to attack. They bossed possession and looked to overload in wide areas, using the brilliance of Aguero and co to finish off slick moves.

(Image: Martin Rickett/PA Wire)

If there is a concern, it comes in a defensive sense. City never managed to find the right central defensive balance, especially when captain Vincent Kompany was injured, and their soft centre was exposed too regularly for a club of such means. Ronald Koeman's Southampton, for example, have a better record over the past two seasons.

Everton's own problems in this area are well-documented, of course. They wouldn't be solved, one imagines, by signings of the ilk of Nicolas Otamendi, Eliaquim Mangala or Martin Demichelis.

Managing at the top

What Pellegrini does have, though, is pedigree. He's managed at the top level, and managed elite level footballers.

He's had success in Argentina, guided provincial Villarreal to within a whisker of a Champions League final, and took Malaga to the quarters. He left Real Madrid without a trophy, but having lost just seven of his 48 games in charge. They finished that season three points behind one of the best Barcelona sides in history.

He's worked with Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Raul, Sergio Aguero, Yaya Toure, Ruud Van Nistelrooy Juan Roman Riquelme, Xabi Alonso, Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos. He's dealt with the egos, handled the dressing room politics, coped in the spotlight. It is rare to find a player with a bad word to say about him.

His public persona is a rather dour one – no soundbites or show-stealing press conferences – but many Evertonians would welcome a more restrained approach after three years of Martinez.

Ready and available – and knows the league

Pellegrini would not come cheap, of course. He was paid around £4m a year at Manchester City, and would wish to bring in his own staff. Assistant Ruben Cousillas, goalkeeping coach Xabier Mancisidor and fitness coach Jose Cabello accompany him wherever he goes.

All, though, are available to start right now. Pellegrini is free, and has shown no indication that he wants to take a break from the game. He's based in Hale, and has detailed knowledge of the league that, say, Frank De Boer lacks. There would be no adaptation process if he were to take over.

(Image: 2016 Getty Images)

Blues fans may point to a dubious track record in the transfer market – De Bruyne represents perhaps his only bona fide success at City – and to the fact that, at 62, he may not represent a long-term appointment.

But if it's pedigree, temperament and a recent track record of success the Blues want, they could do a lot worse than hop over to Greater Manchester and see if Manuel fancies it....