MY FAVORITE EVERTON:
THE 'LUKAKU ERA'
I wanted to start by saying how appropriate it is to touch on this Everton era, given Seamus Coleman's departure at the end of the season. He meant the world to Evertonians everywhere and was, in fact, the best sixty grand ever spent. Congrats on an incredible Everton career, Captain. I coulda titled this the ‘Coleman era’ too.
(Now, maybe a bit of a cynical take before jumping in)
As we approach the final day of the season, reflecting on teams of the past seemed like the right thing to do, seeing as Everton haven’t taken any steps forward in recent years. We have a brand-new stadium, new players, and new owners, yet we still seem stale and uninteresting to follow. I’ve celebrated avoiding relegation like winning the league, and for a club like Everton, that’s unacceptable.
In any case, here we go, taking a look at one of my favorite squads from the past, instead of dwelling on a season of what could have been.
When we signed Romelu Lukaku on a permanent basis in 2014, I don’t think we knew how special his brief time with the Toffees would be. Maybe some say they saw it coming, but I was skeptical, albeit hopeful. I was a high school senior, trying to figure it all out (still don’t know what’s going on), but I had Everton on the weekends.
Regardless, it was the start of something that would make me fall more in love with this club than I ever thought possible.
‘Everton Lukaku’ was a different beast entirely. We all know why our No. 10 was so highly sought after. He was capable of bullying defenders and then straight-up outrunning them. A rare combination. He could finish from just about anywhere, left, right, Headers, it didn’t matter. Pair this with an academy product, feathering these beautiful passes into his path to run on to, and you have a recipe for dismantling teams.
Ross Barkley was a true box-to-box midfielder who could pick up the ball in his own half and carry it 40 yards before most defenders even knew a counterattack was on. Barkley was that product who played so well as a creator. He could take his chances too and finish with rockets from outside the box (sometimes).
Barkley wouldn’t back down from anyone, either. He was confident (maybe a little cocky) and made others around him better. There was a scrappiness to Everton in this era that made it feel like their moments of brilliance were manufactured through hard work and having fun on the pitch.
Barkley gave Lukaku someone who was willing to find him in the channels rather than just kicking it down the field for him to chase. When Goodison was in full voice, with Barkley driving down the pitch and Lukaku lurking on the backs of defenders, it had a buzz most teams in the league couldn't replicate.
The goals they were involved in often felt unplanned and improvised instead of drilled on the training ground, which made them more satisfying to witness (in my humble opinion).
Then we had John Stones.
A "Rolls-Royce" of a player, suited to the passing game Martinez had installed, and Everton fans recognized they were watching a rare talent develop in front of their eyes. His composure on the ball, elegance under pressure, and his obvious high ceiling made him one of the top targets for other clubs to chase.
Though all 3 of their departures stung as a fan, ultimately, I suppose I understood. Lukaku to United, Stones to City, and Ross Barkley to Chelsea. Some were happy to see them go, citing a lack of loyalty. For me, I was grateful to have witnessed these 3 young talents on my team.
I could go down that roster and pick out a few more names (at least) with moments in Royal Blue worth recalling, but I’ll stick with these final 2 players.
Our fullbacks.
Leighton Baines and Seamus Coleman.
“He believed in me as a football player and as a person. I really admire him for his attitude and for everything he gives for the Club. He’s one of the best trainers I’ve ever seen. That’s why he’s been here so long and why he’s such a big figure.” -Merlin Röhl (2025/26) on Seamus Coleman.
Few full-back partnerships in Premier League history have been able to match the longevity and quality that Leighton Baines and Seamus Coleman had at Everton.
Between them, they made 853 appearances and contributed 160 goals for the club. Remarkable numbers for two defenders who became synonymous with the blue half of Merseyside for more than a decade.
During the 2012/13 season alone, Baines created 116 chances for his teammates, more than any other player across Europe's top-5 leagues. Insane.
It was Baines and Coleman who eventually traveled to David Moyes' home to convince him to return to Everton as manager before he took over the club again. I’d say that gesture speaks volumes about what the badge means to both of them. On and off the pitch, these two have truly shown me what it means to be an Evertonian.
For a few seasons in the mid-2010s, they had something. Players who made you want to watch, which, in recent years, has sometimes been enough.
We had a few European nights during that 2014/15 campaign, only losing twice, giving the fanbase hope for the future.
Unfortunately, Dynamo Kyiv took us out on aggregate, but I carry that run with me. We’ve been chasing that feeling ever since.
This year, in 2025/26, we fell short of seeing that European dream realized once again, but I’ll always have ‘my favorite Everton’.
Here’s one of the best YouTube videos ever created. ↓
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Thanks for putting this together - my favourite Everton team though was under Moyes first time round - Arteta, Neville, Jags, Osman, Peanut etc. It’s crazy how quickly time goes though. All feels like yesterday and the teams start to merge together in my head.
Ross Barkley was my player back in the day! Was so happy for him when he had that one season at Luton