Baines feels 'incredibly lucky' to be coaching at Everton

Former left-back Leighton Baines says it is "a privilege and a honour" to be part of Everton's backroom staff, having reunited with former boss David Moyes who brought him to the club from Wigan Athletic in 2007.

The 41-year-old was inducted into the club's Hall of Fame last month, joining 37 other former players, after making 420 appearances over 13 seasons for the Toffees.

Baines told , externalEvertontv in a recent interview, external: "The award is quite surreal. When you hear some of the names who have won the award in the past, it is very humbling to be put in that company.

"It is important to take stock and appreciate what you've had. I have been incredibly lucky to find my way back to this football club. I am really happy that I was able to give my best playing years to this football club.

"The privilege is now mine, after people looked after me and kept me in the building when I finished playing, and I take that responsibility seriously."

After retiring at the end of the 2019-20 season, Baines became a development coach in the club's academy before being appointed under-18s head coach in October 2021.

In January 2025, after Sean Dyche's sacking, Baines took interim charge of the Toffees, alongside Seamus Coleman, for an FA Cup tie against Peterborough United before gaining a spot in the first-team coaching set up under Moyes.

"It has been a great 18 months for me," assistant manager Baines added. "I wasn't trying to be in the first-team environment in any way, my focus was completely on becoming a better coach, but then things changed.

"The manager came in and asked me to come up with him, which is obviously a fantastic opportunity and I have thoroughly enjoyed it.

"Being able to work with the players at this level, you can't lose sight of how much of a real honour that is."