<P> Runner - Up: FA Cup (2009) </P> <P> In March 2002, the board turned to promising young Preston North End manager David Moyes with the task of moving Everton forward after years of underachievement, and he was able to steer the club to safety in the last few games of the season, finishing 15th . In Moyes' first full season in charge, Everton finished seventh in the Premiership and just missed out on a UEFA Cup place in a campaign which was dominated by the emergence of brilliant young striker Wayne Rooney, who came to national prominence with a spectacular last - minute winner against league champions Arsenal, becoming the youngest English league goalscorer ever and Everton's youngest ever scorer, and consigning the champions to their first league defeat for almost a year . </P> <P> 2002--03 was Everton's best season since the sixth - place finish of 1995--96 and for a while it had even looked like they would qualify for the Champions League . In the FA Cup the Toffees were on the receiving end of a giant - killing, away to Shrewsbury Town, who were managed by former Everton captain Kevin Ratcliffe and were just four months away from being relegated from the Football League . The following season's league form was a stark contrast, with the club finishing 17th and accumulating the lowest points total in the club's history . </P> <P> Wayne Rooney handed in a transfer request and was sold to Manchester United in August 2004 for a fee of £ 23 million, with a potential to rise to £ 30 million due to bonus payments for league positions, trophies, international caps and 25% excess sell on fees . Despite the loss of Rooney, Everton's 2004--05 was much more successful and finished fourth in the table, their highest position since 1988, achieving Champions League qualification, ahead of rivals Liverpool . They played some of their finest football for years, thanks greatly to the 4--5--1 tactic of Moyes and the form of Danish midfielder Thomas Gravesen, who was sold to Real Madrid midway through the season . </P>

When was the last time everton played at wembley