Everton have appointed Sean Dyche as their new men’s first-team manager until June 2025.
Dyche initially wasn’t considered as a serious contender following Frank Lampard’s sacking last Monday (23 January), with Marcelo Bielsa and Ralph Hasenhuttl instead viewed as the initial favourites but Bielsa walked away from talks whilst Hasenhuttl soon fell out of consideration.
Everton officials consequently swooped for Dyche who has experience of serious relegation battles with his former club – Burnley, which he left in April 2022 with the Clarets ultimately relegated just a month after his departure in a dramatic final-day climax to the season.
Speaking about his return to management on two-and-a-half year contract, Dyche described the chance to take charge at Everton as “an honour”, as he insisted that he and his coaching staff “are ready and eager to help get this great club back on track.”
Dyche also acknowledged how “passionate” Everton supporters can be about their “precious” club as he admitted that he wants to see players show “sweat on the shirt, effort and getting back to some of the basic principles of what Everton Football Club has stood for for a long time.”
On how fans can play a role in the club’s fight for Premier League survival, Dyche added: “We want to bring back a good feeling. We need the fans, we need unity and we need everyone aligned. That starts with us as staff and players.”
Amidst criticism of various players from supporters and Anthony Gordon’s departure for Newcastle, Dyche also iterated that he still has a “quality” team which “fights and wears the badge with pride.”
Dyche also addressed his plans for the club as he continued: “We want to change the shape of this club going forward, remodel it in our style, but in a way that we can win.
“That’s the task in front of us – make sure we’re building, tactically and technically, giving players organisation, allow them the freedom to play, to go and enjoy their football because it’s brilliant when the team’s playing with a smile, but we’ve got to win.”
Dyche will make his bow as Everton manager on Saturday 4 February, as the Toffees host Arsenal at Goodison Park in a 12:30pm GMT kick-off live on BT Sport in UK.