Lurch..

By the nark end
February 3 2010

Philippe Senderos will be a hit at Everton, according to his international manager.

Senderos' switch delighted Switzerland manager Hitzfeld. The German coach has won seven German leagues and two Champions Leagues and has nothing but praise for the 24-year-old defender.

"First of all his personality," Hitzfeld said when evertonfc.com asked him about the defender's strengths. "He is a true leader of any team. He is the one who opens his mouth not only during games, but also in training sessions.

"He simply is unable to accept defeats, he cannot lose. He's very strong in the air, and he knows how to read the game."

Senderos speaks six languages and has gone on record in the past as saying he enjoys reading theology.

Hitzfeld confirmed: "He is a great character both on the pitch and outside. He is not a person, he is personality."

The Geneva-born stopper had played only twice this season prior to his switch to Everton but his international coach is keen for him to play as much as possible, with Switzerland set to take on Spain, Honduras and Chile in South Africa later this year.

"I usually do not cap players that do not play very regularly at their clubs," explained Hitzfeld. "But with Philippe I have created some sort of exception - due to some exceptional facts - and he never disappointed when he was on the pitch.

"Of course, I was pleased when he moved to Everton," continues the former Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich boss.

"I learned that David Moyes had even travelled to London to talk to Philippe to prove that he was going to count on him.

"Philippe could have gone to Glasgow as well, it might even have been easier for him to install himself as a defender, but the fact that he has chosen a team which has got some very good defenders already shows me his sheer will to make up for anything he has been missing.

"He wants be in good shape when it comes to the FIFA World Cup 2010 in June."