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For 20 wildly successful years, Liverpool never looked further than the Anfield bootroom whenever they needed to source a new manager.

From Paisley, to Fagan, to Dalglish, to Souness, to Evans, the appointments were seamless and obvious.

They were also successful – in the first three cases spectacularly so.

The appointments knew the club, knew the players, knew the philosophies which had proven so successful. So why change anything?

Across the park at Everton, they did it differently.

Managers often had Everton links, but the promotion from within model was rarely utilised.

Colin Harvey was the logical successor when Howard Kendall left for Spain in 1987 – and despite failing to replicate the remarkable success of his predecessor, a Charity Shield, a Cup final, a League Cup semi and fourth, eighth and sixth place finishes in the Premier League were, in hindsight, creditable.

But it wasn't a model Everton were keen to follow.

Mike Walker, Walter Smith, David Moyes and Roberto Martinez had no Goodison links whatsoever.

And only one could have been considered a moderate 'success'.

Everton are now scouring the continent again for a new manager – but this time they may have the best candidate sitting right under their noses.

David Unsworth has a 100 per cent record as Blues boss.

His record in charge reads one match, one win, three goals scored, none conceded.

Okay, that match came against an already relegated Norwich City with half-an-eye already on the beach – while the last caretaker who achieved a win percentage as impressive, Jimmy Gabriel who won his only match in charge in 1990 3-0, picked up one point from seven games when he had a seven-match spell three years later.

But it is the people inside Goodison Park who are worth listening to when a potential new manager is discussed.

The young footballers Unsworth has coached, nurtured and promoted at Finch Farm – burgeoning young talents like Matty Pennington, Tom Davies, Kieran Dowell and Jonjoe Kenny won't have a word said against him.

But they would say that, wouldn't they?

He is a bold, progressive and intelligent coach with outstanding people skills.

It is the unpublished views of some of the more senior players at Goodison which are more interesting.

They describe Unsworth not just as a “top bloke” but as a “top coach” who would do a “very good job” if he was given the chance.

The bookies seem to think that chance is slight.

Unsworth is a best priced 25/1. According to the bookies Ryan Giggs, Paulo Fonseca, Martin O'Neill and David Moyes are better bets.

That is presumably based on Unsworth's lack of experience in the transfer market.

New investor Farhad Moshiri has millions to make available, and will want to see it spent wisely.

But that's where a Director of Football model which the club is investigating could come into force.

Many football clubs now target and buy players by committee – then ask a talented coach to get the best out of them.

Everton were already considering that model before Roberto Martinez was sacked.

What is overwhelmingly in Unsworth's favour, is that he dearly wants the job.

While Ronald Koeman is waiting on a potential opening at Arsenal, Unai Emery has been ruled out by his president at Sevilla and Jose Mourinho was always next in line to succeed at Manchester United, Unsworth says the Everton manager's job is one of the top jobs in world football.

“Who wouldn’t want this job? I have massive aspirations to be a manager and this is the only place I want to manage,” he said.

Promoting from within has worked in this city before.

Could it work again?