Everton officially announced the incorporation of Frank Lampard as the club's new coach on a two-and-a-half-year contract, replacing Spaniard Rafael Benitez, who was sacked in recent days.

Havana, February 1 (RHC)-- Everton officially announced the incorporation of Frank Lampard as the club's new coach on a two-and-a-half-year contract, replacing Spaniard Rafael Benitez, who was sacked in recent days.

The former England midfielder takes up his new position just a year after being sacked as Chelsea's helmsman, a team for which he was a player and captain for 13 seasons between 2001 and 2014.

"It's a great honor for me to represent and manage a club of Everton's size and tradition. I'm really looking forward to getting started. The owner, chairman and board have conveyed their passion and ambition to me," Lampard told media.

"My first message to the players is that we have to be in this together. We will try to do our job and I know the fans will be there to support us," the tactician added.

Lampard, 43, faces the challenge of righting the ship for Liverpool, who have won just one of their last 13 games and are 16th in the Premier League on 19 points, just four points off the relegation places.

His first match in charge of his new squad will be on February 5 against Brentford, in the fourth round of the FA Cup, and he will count on new players brought in by the club's board to reinforce the first team.

In the last days of the winter transfer window, Everton confirmed the signing of Dutch international Donny van de Beek, from Manchester United and expressly requested by Lampard himself.