Favourites to become new Everton manager with Sean Dyche sacked hours before FA Cup tie

We look at the favourites to become new Everton manager with Sean Dyche sacked just a few hours before the FA Cup Third Round tie.

It comes following a disappointing sequence of results, which saw them pick up just one win in their last eleven matches, leaving them precariously positioned just one point above the relegation zone in the Premier League.

In the interim, Leighton Baines and Seamus Coleman are expected to oversee the upcoming FA Cup match against Peterborough on Thursday evening.

Currently, the Toffees find themselves sitting 16th in the Premier League table and notably failed to register a single shot on target during their recent 1-0 defeat to Bournemouth, marking their eighth loss in the league this season.

Furthermore, the team has struggled offensively, not scoring in eight of their last ten fixtures. Dyche took the helm at Everton in January 2023, successfully guiding the club to safety in the Premier League with a crucial victory on the final day against Bournemouth.

The 53-year-old manager managed to maintain Everton’s top-flight status for the 2023/24 season, despite the club facing an eight-point deduction due to two separate violations of the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR).

David Moyes emerges as top target of The Friedkin Group (TFG) to succeed Sean Dyche as Everton manager. No agreement yet; talks ongoing with 61yo as TFG work to make swift appointment, with focus being to retain Premier League status. Everton are said to be considering the return of David Moyes to the club, with Lee Carsley joining him as his assistant.

🚨 BREAKING: Everton have sacked the manager Sean Dyche, decision made. pic.twitter.com/VuKq64hNxS

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 9, 2025

Club statement.

— Everton (@Everton) January 9, 2025

Sean Dyche was asked about his future in his last news conference as Everton boss earlier this week.

"It comes down to me, without any shadow of a doubt." 🗣 #BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/b9rl8krXcL

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) January 9, 2025

EVERTON STATEMENT:

Everton Football Club can confirm that Sean Dyche has been relieved of his duties as Senior Men’s First Team Manager with immediate effect.

Ian Woan, Steve Stone, Mark Howard and Billy Mercer have also left the Club.

The process to appoint a new manager is under way and an update will be provided in due course.

Under-18s Head Coach Leighton Baines and Club Captain Seamus Coleman will take charge of first-team affairs on an interim basis.

FAVOURITES TO BECOME NEW EVERTON MANAGER:

Sky Bet – 9th January
David Moyes – 1/4
Jose Mourinho – 6/1
Paulo Fonseca – 9/1
Lee Carsley – 10/1

BetVictor – 9th January
David Moyes – 1/3
Paulo Fonseca – 5/1
Jose Mourinho – 6/1
Lee Carsley – 12/1

Sean Dyche on today’s defeat at Bournemouth: pic.twitter.com/0q0e6Pvjjn

— Everton (@Everton) January 4, 2025

Sean Dyche spoke to the media before Thursday’s FA Cup third-round tie against League One side Peterborough.

On reports his position is under pressure with the new ownership: “It should be [under scrutiny]. At the end of the day, if you are a business or a club of this size then succession planning should surely be part of your due diligence. I’ve got no problem with that. It should be ongoing at every football club. It happens in normal business life, so I never really concern myself with that.”

He added that communication with the owners has been “positive” with “no indication” they are looking to bring someone else in and they have “been very up front with me and open” about what their expectations are.

Asked about the human element to the situation: “The club is always bigger than me. I have said that since I got here. I just see myself as a custodian. So far, I’ve handled it pretty well, I think. Now, can I go win some games? Can I take it to another level? Can I change the narrative? Can I reinvent what we are trying to do?”

On importance of this FA Cup game for him personally: “Every game is important. I have said that all along. It is so apparent when you get to this football club that every game is massive. It is hero or zero. Win some and you are a hero at that moment – you know what you are doing. Lose and you don’t. It is really simple here. I have never taken any game lightly.”

On what it is like managing in the situation Everton have been in: “You just adapt to realities of each club. I considered the state the club was in before I joined and then when I got here it was considerably different. Not in a positive way. There were a lot more challenges that became more apparent that were unbeknown to me when I got here. I have been managing virtually everything on and off the pitch to the best of my ability.”

Here’s how fans reacted amid the favourites to become new Everton manager with Sean Dyche sacked hours before the FA Cup Third Round clash…

@FollowEverton: Wow. They’re not messing around. Much needed. All the best Sean.

@foggyfoy: I know we’ve done some mad ‘Everton’ things in the past but sacking a manager three hours before a match is a new one.

@RomseyCam: I’m shocked at the timing of this. Thanks to Dyche for his service and making us hard to beat but the fans and the club needed more ambition and entertainment. Will be amazing seeing Baines and Coleman lead the team tonight 💙 #EFC

@WillJarvis: Now it’s done, I have no hesitation in thanking Dyche for his work. I honestly don’t believe that many managers would have kept us up under such circumstances but he wasn’t close to being able to kick on. I know we don’t have a great squad but this year has been a shambles 💙

@AlexGrace12: Not a single message of thanks for the job Dyche has done at #EFC in some of the most challenging circumstances. Not to mention they play in yet three hours.

@AdamJBrowne: Not shocked Dyche is gone, but shocked at the timing—just a couple of hours before a game! His tenure was strange. At times, he felt like the right firefighter we needed, but towards the end, I was convinced he was among our worst managers. #Everton #Dyche

@WycombeDJ: Genuine shame. Dyche is possibly my favourite manager bar Blooms, in an era of ideologues his pragmatism and ability shines through. He got Burnley to Europe and got little Plaudits. Kompany got Burnley relegated and got the Bayern job. Shows how underrated he is.

@IANdrewDiceClay: Sean Dyche kept Everton up twice during a period where there was no money to spend, his best players were sold consistently and his squad is aging or out of contract. He did an incredible job, even if you think the football is dog shit (it was.) I’d have still kept him until May.

@BobbyRooneyy: Utmost respect from Me. Took us very at our lowest, kept us up twice, inc after two points deductions. It’s the right decision, but eternally grateful for the job he did. Time for the next chapter, and let’s hope TFG get it right.

@MrEverton1878: Ruthless from the owners. I love it. Let the new regime begin. I will thank Dyche 100% for last season in difficult circumstances he did what he was asked. Nobody can argue tho 8 wins in over a year and 3 wins all season, we don’t score goals it has been coming. New Era UTFT 💙

@AdamHickin: I think I’m pleased Dyche has gone. Would’ve preferred to limp through to the summer and change in a more considered manner but things have been so bad we may not have made it. Now the nagging thought that our squad is even shitter than he’s made it look takes hold.

@AndyGra33976557: Thank dyche for the last two seasons for keeping us up especially under shite circumstances 👏 , sadly the wheels fell off this season an he had to go ,, actually looking forward to Goodison tonight under the lights in what will feel like -5 😂⚽️

@ThePaulMachin: To miss out on Potter and still sack Dyche is pretty bold. Surely the new owners must have someone excellent lined up, or the cycle just continues.

@renepower: Poor release. He deserved a mention for keeping us up last season despite being absolutely awful this season. Should probably have happened the second they took over, hopefully injects some positivity into players and fanbase.

@talking_toffees: The correct decision but at a very strange time. Thanks for the past couple of seasons in very tricky circumstances, but the results & performances this season have been completely unacceptable #EFC #UTFT