Andrei Kanchelskis open to joining Everton's coaching set-up as Sam Allardyce assumes control

Former Everton and Manchester United winger Andrei Kanchelskis is open to returning to Goodison Park as a coach and believes he is "ready" to assume a backroom role at his old club, who are set to appoint Sam Allardyce as their new manager.

Kanchelskis dazzled the Goodison faithful for a brief period in the mid-1990's after joining from United for a then-club record fee of £5m in the summer of 1995. He is most fondly remembered for producing a match-winning display against Liverpool at Anfield, where he scored twice in a 2-1 win for the Toffees.

Since hanging up his boots in 2006, ending an 18-year career that included spells with Southampton, Manchester City and Rangers among others, Kanchelskis has taken up six coaching roles including four managerial positions, with all but one situated in his native Russia - he briefly took up the reins at Latvian outfit FC Jurmala, who are yet to appoint Kanchelskis' successor despite him leaving the club three years ago.

His previous coaching exploits may not overly impress Everton or Allardyce, who plans to bring in Craig Shakespeare and Sammy Lee as his assistants, but Kanchelskis is willing to get to work at Finch Farm if the troubled Merseysiders decide to reach out to him.

"Yeah, why not? If there is some interest in me, I am ready. It would be very interesting for me to go back to Everton," Kanchelskis told Mundial Magazine.

During his time at Everton, Kanchelskis played alongside David Unsworth and Duncan Ferguson, who have been tasked with coaching the club's youth and first-team squads in recent years. Unsworth bravely stepped in as caretaker manager when Ronald Koeman was relieved of his duties last month and has worked wonders with the Under-23s over the last couple of seasons.

Ferguson and Unsworth's services may not be needed by Allardyce, who has seemingly already decided on who is backroom staff will be, but Kanchelskis does not think the Everton stalwarts should be cast aside and has called on Bill Kenwright to ensure the former striker and full-back still have parts to play on Merseyside until the end of the season.

"If you bring in a new coach now, it is more new ideas; they may not understand the English mentality," Kanchelskis said. "Unsworth and Ferguson have been working for a long time at Everton and understand the players, and the fans have the understanding, also. For me, it's better if the chairman keeps them on."

"Unsworth is a great guy and Duncan Ferguson, too. I think it's best to keep them until the end of the season and see what happens with the situation."