David Moyes makes sensational return to Everton after Sean Dyche was sacked by new owners The Friedkin Group just hours before FA Cup tie
David Moyes has made a sensational return to Everton after being appointed to succeed Sean Dyche as manager.
Moyes, 61, is back at Goodison Park 12 years after leaving to replace Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United. He met with club officials on Friday and agreed to take on the role.
Mail Sport revealed on Friday that Moyes was expected to sign terms that will run until June 2027, and Everton confirmed his appointment on Saturday morning.
Moyes spent the last 48 hours working on the make up of his backroom staff and he will be joined at Goodison Park by long-term ally Billy McKinlay.
Upon his return, Moyes said: ‘It’s great to be back! I enjoyed 11 wonderful and successful years at Everton and didn’t hesitate when I was offered the opportunity to rejoin this great club.
‘Now we need Goodison and all Evertonians to play their part in getting behind the players in this important season so we can move into our fabulous new stadium as a Premier League team.’
Former Everton manager David Moyes has made a sensational return to Goodison Park
Sean Dyche has been sacked as Everton manager with the club facing another relegation fight
Moyes previously held the role at Goodison Park between February 2002 and May 2013
Dyche was sensationally sacked on Thursday, just hours before Everton’s 2-0 win over Peterborough in the third round of the FA Cup.
There had been speculation all week about Dyche’s position, fuelled by Everton making an inquiry on Monday to Graham Potter’s representatives around the time when the new West Ham manager was being interviewed by David Sullivan to succeed Julen Lopetegui.
The Friedkin Group, whose takeover from Farhad Moshiri was confirmed on December 19 last year, had been assessing the situation around Dyche – accelerated by last Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Bournemouth – and concerns were mounting following a run of one win in 11 matches.
It is understood that Dyche was on the brink of leaving Everton on Wednesday night but he reported to Finch Farm to take a light training session on Thursday morning. There was an uneasy atmosphere around the club and, four hours before kick-off, the decision was taken to end his two-year reign.
Everton released a terse four-sentence statement to confirm that Dyche and his assistants Ian Woan, Steve Stone, Mark Howard and Billy Mercer had all left the club after two years and that the process of recruiting a new manager had begun.
Though Jose Mourinho – who worked under The Friedkin Group at Roma – was linked with the post, it quickly became clear that Moyes was the overwhelming favourite to step into the role he previously held from February 2002 to May 2013.
Moyes was in line to return to Everton once before and was interviewed in Munich by Moshiri in December 2019 but was usurped at the eleventh hour when the Iranian billionaire suddenly grasped at the chance to appoint Carlo Ancelotti.
The Scot has been out of work since leaving West Ham at the end of last season but has since appeared as a pundit on Match of the Day.
Moyes guided Everton to the qualifying rounds of the Champions League after finishing fourth ahead of Liverpool in the 2004-05 season, as well as the last 16 of the UEFA Cup in 2008. He also led the club to the 2009 FA Cup final, where the Toffees were beaten by Chelsea.
Everton confirmed Dyche’s departure in a short statement on Thursday. ‘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.
Everton are a point outside the relegation zone having won three league games all season
Moyes has been out of work since leaving West Ham (pictured after winning the Europa Conference League)
‘The process to appoint a new Manager is underway 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.’
Baines and Coleman oversaw the victory against League One strugglers Peterborough to book Everton’s place in the fourth round of the FA Cup.
Moyes will be tasked with keeping Everton in the Premier League, with the club 16th in the table, a point outside of the relegation zone.
The Toffees have won just three league games all season and will be hoping for an upturn in form following the appointment of Moyes.
