BY OSABUOHIEN VIVIAN ROSE
Everton has sacked manager Sean Dyche in a bid to pull away from relegation.
Former Burnley boss Dyche took over in January 2023 after predecessor Frank Lampard left the team 19th in the Premier League.
He secured survival on the final day of that season thanks to a 1-0 victory over Bournemouth, and stayed well clear of relegation last term despite two separate points deductions.
This season, however, things have been tougher. Key player Amadou Onana left over the summer, and Dyche’s Everton started slowly while waiting for centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite to return from injury.
He has been sacked with Everton in 16th place, just one point above the drop after one win in the last 10 Premier League games, just hours before the Toffees play Peterborough in the third round of the FA Cup.
Everton have also sacked Ian Woan, Steve Stone, Mark Howard and Billy Mercer, putting under-18s head coach Leighton Baines and club captain Seamus Coleman in charge on an interim basis.
Jose Mourinho is the early favourite with the bookies to take over from Dyche, despite having already been sacked by the Friedkin Group in his career. Mourinho was sacked at Roma by Everton’s new owners, but is reportedly ready to jump ship from Fenerbahce after just half a season.
The 61-year-old would love another shot at the Premier League after being sacked from two stints at Chelsea and one each at Manchester United and Tottenham.
Another possibility is a return for David Moyes, who took charge of Everton from 2002 to 2013 and is available after leaving West Ham last year.
Dyche’s contract was due to expire at the end of the season, but he indicated in December that new owners the Friedkin Group had given him their initial backing. TFG completed their takeover earlier that month, and Dyche indicated he would be proud of his achievements at Goodison Park regardless of his future.
“It’s a strange situation here because on the one hand, you’re not winning as many games and everyone is saying ‘why aren’t you winning more games?’,” he said. “On the other hand, you’re looking at the bigger picture and going ‘Yeah, I’m very proud of my part, although it’s not just me, but I’m very proud of that. That’ll never change regardless of what my future is here, that will never change.
