Quick Facts
Biography
John Keith Ebbrell (born 1 October 1969 in Bromborough, Cheshire) is an English former professional footballer who is currently assistant manager of the Under-23's side at Premier League club Everton FC.
Playing career
Everton
Ebbrell signed schoolboy forms for Everton aged 12. Everton proposed Ebbrell attend trials for the first intake of the FA/GM National Football School at Lilleshall in 1984. The trials were successful and he went on to captain the England schoolboys teams at various age levels. Shortly after graduating he signed professional forms for Everton in 1986 and was quickly fast-tracked by Howard Kendall to regularly train with the first team squad, resulting in an early first team call-up and then to becoming a regular first team player in the early 1990s. During a difficult decade for the Toffees Ebbrell was part of the Everton squad that reached the 1995 FA Cup Final, but after missing the semi-final (in which Everton comfortably beat an impressive Tottenham Hotspur) through suspension, manager Joe Royle continued with the other two-thirds of the Dogs of War for the final – Barry Horne and Joe Parkinson.
Sheffield United
In 1997 Howard Kendall, then manager of Sheffield United, bought Ebbrell in a £1.2m transfer deal.
Ebbrell's career at Sheffield United was blighted by an ankle injury, originally sustained at Everton but deteriorated after surgery during his time at Sheffield United, to the extent that Ebbrell was forced to retire from professional football early in 1999. He made his Sheffield United debut against Reading, but was replaced by Don Hutchison at half time due to injury, meaning he only completed 45 minutes of action in his Sheffield United career.
Everton hosted a testimonial match in which Joe Royle provided the opposition in the form of Manchester City, as recognition of Ebbrell's service extending to more than 10 years of top flight football with Everton.
Coaching career
Ebbrell's first post-playing football role was as Chief Scout under David Moyes at Everton, a post Ebbrell held for 3 years before subsequently leaving to pursue a football agency role. Ebbrell co-founded X8 Ltd, a football representation and agency business. In 2002 X8 merged with Proform Sports Management Ltd. The combined agency represented approximately 60 players (including a young Wayne Rooney). Ebbrell resumed his football career when he started coaching at Tranmere Rovers in the 2008–09 season.
In July 2010 Ebbrell succeeded Kenny Shiels as Tranmere Rovers' Centre of Excellence Manager.
In March 2015 Ebbrell rejoined Everton in an Academy Coaching role.
In January 2016 Ebbrell took charge of Everton's Under-18 side as Manager.
Playing career statistics
| Season | League Apps (sub) | League Goals | Cup Apps (sub) | Cup Goals | Total Apps (Sub) | Total Goals | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986–87 | – (-) | – | – (1) | – | – (1) | – | |
| 1987–88 | – (-) | – | – (-) | – | – (-) | – | |
| 1988–89 | 1 (3) | – | – (1) | – | 1 (4) | – | |
| 1989–90 | 13 (4) | – | 4 (-) | – | 17 (4) | – | |
| 1990–91 | 34 (2) | 3 | 14 (-) | 4 | 48 (2) | 7 | |
| 1991–92 | 39 (-) | 1 | 7 (-) | – | 46 (-) | 1 | |
| 1992–93 | 24 (-) | 1 | 4 (-) | – | 28 (-) | 1 | |
| 1993–94 | 39 (-) | 4 | 6 (-) | – | 45 (-) | 4 | |
| 1994–95 | 26 (-) | – | 3 (-) | – | 29 (-) | – | |
| 1995–96 | 24 (1) | 4 | 7 (-) | 2 | 31 (-) | 6 | |
| 1996–97 | 7 (-) | – | 1 (-) | – | 8 (-) | – | |
| Career | 207 (10) | 13 | 16 (2) | 6 | 253 (12) | 19 |