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Farhad Moshiri DEFENDS his decision to appoint ex-Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez as Everton's new manager, insisting he had 'more passion and knowledge' than any candidate... before bizarrely claiming Spaniard's connection to rivals is 'very distant'

Everton's major shareholder Farhad Moshiri has defended his decision to appoint Rafa Benitez as the club's new manager.

Moshiri says Benitez - who will arrive at the club's Finch Farm training base to commence work on July 5 - had more 'passion and knowledge' than any of the other candidates.

He also said the fact that Benitez will become the first man to have managed both Liverpool and Everton since William Edward Barclay in the 1890s was irrelevant - claiming the Spaniard's connection to the Reds is 'very distant'.

Everton's major shareholder Farhad Moshiri has defended his decision to appoint Rafa Benitez
Benitez has signed a three-year deal
The Spaniard replaces Carlo Ancelotti

Moshiri said it was Benitez's in depth knowledge of '3,000 players' that landed him the job at Everton.