# 2005–06 Everton F.C. season

During the 2005–06 season, Everton competed in the Premier League.

## Season summary

Despite finishing in the coveted fourth place last season, Everton suffered a downturn this season. Failure to qualify for the Champions League and an early exit from the UEFA Cup took their toll on player morale, and at the end of October the Toffees stood in the relegation zone. The club eventually rallied to secure a safe eleventh place in the final table – not high enough for any further European adventures the next season, and somewhat disappointing for a side which had achieved so much last season.
The end of the season saw the retirement of Scottish striker Duncan Ferguson, the highest scoring Scotsman ever in the Premier League's history.

## Final league table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 9 | West Ham United | 38 | 16 | 7 | 15 | 52 | 55 | −3 | 55 | Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round |
| 10 | Wigan Athletic | 38 | 15 | 6 | 17 | 45 | 52 | −7 | 51 | |
| 11 | Everton | 38 | 14 | 8 | 16 | 34 | 49 | −15 | 50 | |
| 12 | Fulham | 38 | 14 | 6 | 18 | 48 | 58 | −10 | 48 | |
| 13 | Charlton Athletic | 38 | 13 | 8 | 17 | 41 | 55 | −14 | 47 | |
* ↑ Since Liverpool had already qualified for the Champions League, their UEFA Cup berth as the FA Cup winners went to West Ham, who were the FA Cup runners-up.

## Results

Everton's score comes first

### Legend

| Win | Draw | Loss |

### FA Premier League

| Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 |
| Ground | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H |
| Result | L | W | L | L | L | L | L | L | D | W | W | L | W | W | D | L | L | L | L | W | W | W | W | D | W | W | L | D | W | W | L | D | D | L | L | D | W | D |
| Position | 18 | 11 | 13 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 16 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 |
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| 13 August 2005 | Manchester United | H | 0–2 | 38,610 | |
| 21 August 2005 | Bolton Wanderers | A | 1–0 | 25,608 | Bent |
| 27 August 2005 | Fulham | A | 0–1 | 17,169 | |
| 10 September 2005 | Portsmouth | H | 0–1 | 36,831 | |
| 19 September 2005 | Arsenal | A | 0–2 | 38,121 | |
| 24 September 2005 | Wigan Athletic | H | 0–1 | 37,189 | |
| 2 October 2005 | Manchester City | A | 0–2 | 42,681 | |
| 15 October 2005 | Tottenham Hotspur | A | 0–2 | 36,247 | |
| 23 October 2005 | Chelsea | H | 1–1 | 36,042 | Beattie (pen) |
| 29 October 2005 | Birmingham City | A | 1–0 | 26,554 | Davies |
| 6 November 2005 | Middlesbrough | H | 1–0 | 34,349 | Beattie |
| 19 November 2005 | West Bromwich Albion | A | 0–4 | 24,784 | |
| 27 November 2005 | Newcastle United | H | 1–0 | 36,207 | Yobo |
| 3 December 2005 | Blackburn Rovers | A | 2–0 | 22,064 | McFadden, Arteta |
| 11 December 2005 | Manchester United | A | 1–1 | 67,831 | McFadden |
| 14 December 2005 | West Ham United | H | 1–2 | 35,704 | Beattie |
| 17 December 2005 | Bolton Wanderers | H | 0–4 | 34,500 | |
| 26 December 2005 | Aston Villa | A | 0–4 | 32,432 | |
| 28 December 2005 | Liverpool | H | 1–3 | 40,158 | Beattie |
| 31 December 2005 | Sunderland | A | 1–0 | 30,576 | Cahill |
| 2 January 2006 | Charlton Athletic | H | 3–1 | 34,333 | Beattie, Cahill (2) |
| 14 January 2006 | Portsmouth | A | 1–0 | 20,094 | Osman |
| 21 January 2006 | Arsenal | H | 1–0 | 36,920 | Beattie |
| 31 January 2006 | Wigan Athletic | A | 1–1 | 21,731 | Thompson (own goal) |
| 4 February 2006 | Manchester City | H | 1–0 | 37,827 | Weir |
| 11 February 2006 | Blackburn Rovers | H | 1–0 | 35,615 | Beattie |
| 25 February 2006 | Newcastle United | A | 0–2 | 51,916 | |
| 4 March 2006 | West Ham United | A | 2–2 | 34,866 | Osman, Beattie |
| 11 March 2006 | Fulham | H | 3–1 | 36,515 | Beattie (2, 1 pen), McFadden |
| 18 March 2006 | Aston Villa | H | 4–1 | 36,507 | McFadden, Cahill (2), Osman |
| 25 March 2006 | Liverpool | A | 1–3 | 44,923 | Cahill |
| 1 April 2006 | Sunderland | H | 2–2 | 38,093 | Osman, McFadden |
| 8 April 2006 | Charlton Athletic | A | 0–0 | 26,954 | |
| 15 April 2006 | Tottenham Hotspur | H | 0–1 | 39,856 | |
| 17 April 2006 | Chelsea | A | 0–3 | 41,765 | |
| 22 April 2006 | Birmingham City | H | 0–0 | 35,420 | |
| 29 April 2006 | Middlesbrough | A | 1–0 | 29,224 | McFadden |
| 7 May 2006 | West Bromwich Albion | H | 2–2 | 39,671 | Anichebe, Ferguson |

### FA Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R3 | 7 January 2006 | Millwall | A | 1–1 | 16,440 | Osman |
| R3R | 18 January 2006 | Millwall | H | 1–0 | 25,800 | Cahill |
| R4 | 28 January 2006 | Chelsea | H | 1–1 | 29,742 | McFadden |
| R4R | 8 February 2006 | Chelsea | A | 1–4 | 39,301 | Arteta (pen) |

### League Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R3 | 25 October 2005 | Middlesbrough | H | 0–1 | 25,844 | |

### UEFA Champions League

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| QR3 1st Leg | 9 August 2005 | Villarreal | H | 1–2 | 37,685 | Beattie |
| QR3 2nd Leg | 24 August 2005 | Villarreal | A | 1–2 (lost 2–4 on agg) | 22,000 | Arteta |

### UEFA Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R1 1st Leg | 15 September 2005 | Dinamo București | A | 1–5 | 11,500 | Yobo |
| R1 2nd Leg | 29 September 2005 | Dinamo București | H | 1–0 (lost 2–5 on agg) | 21,843 | Cahill |

## Squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 1 | GK | ENG | Richard Wright |
| 3 | DF | SCO | Gary Naysmith |
| 4 | DF | NGA | Joseph Yobo |
| 5 | DF | SCO | David Weir (captain) |
| 6 | MF | ESP | Mikel Arteta |
| 8 | FW | ENG | James Beattie |
| 9 | FW | SCO | Duncan Ferguson |
| 10 | MF | WAL | Simon Davies |
| 11 | FW | SCO | James McFadden |
| 12 | MF | CHN | Li Tie |
| 13 | GK | SCO | Iain Turner |
| 14 | MF | IRL | Kevin Kilbane |
| 15 | DF | ENG | Alan Stubbs |
| 16 | MF | IRL | Lee Carsley |
| 17 | MF | AUS | Tim Cahill |
| 18 | MF | ENG | Phil Neville |
| 19 | DF | POR | Nuno Valente |
| 20 | DF | ITA | Matteo Ferrari (on loan from Roma) |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 21 | MF | ENG | Leon Osman |
| 22 | DF | ENG | Tony Hibbert |
| 23 | DF | ITA | Alessandro Pistone |
| 25 | GK | ENG | Nigel Martyn |
| 27 | MF | NED | Andy van der Meyde |
| 29 | FW | ENG | James Vaughan |
| 30 | GK | ENG | John Ruddy |
| 31 | DF | ENG | Mark Hughes |
| 32 | DF | ENG | Stephen Wynne |
| 33 | MF | ENG | Christian Sergeant |
| 34 | DF | ENG | Sean Wright |
| 35 | FW | ENG | Paul Hopkins |
| 36 | DF | SCO | Patrick Boyle |
| 37 | MF | ENG | Jay Harris |
| 38 | FW | NGA | Victor Anichebe |
| 39 | MF | ENG | Laurence Wilson |
| 41 | MF | ISL | Bjarni Vidarsson |

### Left club during season

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 2 | DF | DEN | Per Krøldrup (to Fiorentina) |
| 7 | FW | ENG | Marcus Bent (to Charlton Athletic) |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 26 | GK | NED | Sander Westerveld (on loan from Portsmouth) |
| — | MF | BRA | Anderson de Silva (on loan to Málaga) |

### Player awards

* Player of the Season – Mikel Arteta
* Players' Player of the Season – Mikel Arteta
* Young Player of the Season – James McFadden
* Reserve / U21 Player of the Season – Victor Anichebe
* Academy Player of the Season – Scott Phelan
* Goal of the Season – James Beattie vs. Fulham

## Statistics
### Appearances and goals

| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | Premier League | Premier League | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Europe | Europe |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Goalkeepers ||||||||||||||
| 1 | GK | ENG | Richard Wright | 16 | 0 | 14+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | GK | SCO | Iain Turner | 4 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 25 | GK | ENG | Nigel Martyn | 27 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 30 | GK | ENG | John Ruddy | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Defenders ||||||||||||||
| 3 | DF | SCO | Gary Naysmith | 8 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | DF | NGA | Joseph Yobo | 34 | 2 | 29 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| 5 | DF | SCO | David Weir | 42 | 1 | 32+1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3+1 | 0 |
| 15 | DF | ENG | Alan Stubbs | 14 | 0 | 13+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | DF | POR | Nuno Valente | 26 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 20 | DF | ITA | Matteo Ferrari | 13 | 0 | 6+2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 22 | DF | ENG | Tony Hibbert | 38 | 0 | 29 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 23 | DF | ITA | Alessandro Pistone | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Midfielders ||||||||||||||
| 6 | MF | ESP | Mikel Arteta | 37 | 3 | 27+2 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| 10 | MF | WAL | Simon Davies | 36 | 1 | 22+8 | 1 | 1+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 12 | MF | CHN | Li Tie | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | MF | IRL | Kevin Kilbane | 43 | 0 | 21+13 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3+1 | 0 |
| 16 | MF | IRL | Lee Carsley | 6 | 0 | 3+2 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | MF | AUS | Tim Cahill | 39 | 8 | 32 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| 18 | MF | ENG | Phil Neville | 43 | 1 | 34 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 21 | MF | ENG | Leon Osman | 42 | 4 | 28+7 | 3 | 3+1 | 1 | 0+1 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 |
| 27 | MF | NED | Andy van der Meyde | 11 | 0 | 7+3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Forwards ||||||||||||||
| 8 | FW | ENG | James Beattie | 38 | 11 | 29+3 | 10 | 2+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1+1 | 1 |
| 9 | FW | SCO | Duncan Ferguson | 31 | 1 | 7+20 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2+2 | 0 |
| 11 | FW | SCO | James McFadden | 41 | 7 | 24+8 | 6 | 2+2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2+2 | 0 |
| 29 | FW | ENG | James Vaughan | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 38 | FW | NGA | Victor Anichebe | 3 | 1 | 0+2 | 1 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Players transferred out during the season ||||||||||||||
| 2 | DF | DEN | Per Krøldrup | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | FW | ENG | Marcus Bent | 24 | 1 | 7+11 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 2+2 | 0 |
| 26 | GK | NED | Sander Westerveld | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Last updated: 30 May 2006 Source: Competitions

### Starting 11

    Considering starts in all competitions
* GK: #25, Nigel Martyn, 27
* RB: #22, Tony Hibbert, 38
* CB: #5, David Weir, 40
* CB: #4, Joseph Yobo, 34
* LB: #18, Phil Neville, 43
* RM: #21, Leon Osman, 32
* CM: #6, Mikel Arteta, 35
* CM: #17, Tim Cahill, 39
* LM: #14, Kevin Kilbane, 29
* CF: #8, James Beattie, 33
* CF: #11, James McFadden, 29

## Transfers
### In

* Simon Davies – Tottenham Hotspur, 26 May 2005, £3,500,000
* Per Krøldrup – Udinese, 27 June 2005, £5,000,000
* Mikel Arteta – Real Sociedad, 15 July 2005, £2,800,000
* Phil Neville – Manchester United, 4 August, £3,500,000
* Matteo Ferrari – Roma, 26 August 2005, season-long loan
* Andy van der Meyde – Inter Milan, 31 August 2005, £2,000,000
* Alan Stubbs – Sunderland, free, 20 January 2006
* Sander Westerveld – Portsmouth, 24 February 2006, 28-day loan
* Andrew Johnson – Crystal Palace, 26 May 2006, £3,500,000

### Out

* Alan Stubbs – Sunderland, free, 2 August 2005
* Marcus Bent – Charlton Athletic, 17 January 2006, £2,000,000
* Per Krøldrup – Fiorentina, 31 January 2006, £3,600,000