Osman defends Everton identity during 21st-century trophy drought

Former Everton midfielder Leon Osman addressed the club's 31-year silverware drought, defending the club's identity despite the lack of recent major trophies. Everton's last major honor came in the 1995 FA Cup final against Manchester United, and the club remains the only team among the current 92 in English professional football without a trophy or promotion this century.

Osman made 433 appearances and scored 58 goals for Everton between 2003 and 2016 under managers including David Moyes. During his playing tenure, Everton reached the 2009 FA Cup final, while more recent memorable moments have centered on Premier League survival battles against Crystal Palace in 2022 and Bournemouth in 2023.