Struggling Everton appoints former Burnley boss Sean Dyche as new manager

• by John Weaver , Jan 30, 2023

Sean Dyche vowed on Monday to "remodel" Everton after the Premier League struggler hired the former Burnley boss on a two-and-a-half-year contract to save the team from relegation. He will face Premier League leader Arsenal at Goodison Park in his first match in charge on Saturday.

The 51-year-old said that it was an "honor" to take over the Merseyside club, which has not won any trophies since 1995. The club recently sacked Dyche's predecessor Frank Lampard after a little less than a year in charge. Dyche arrives at Goodison well aware that Everton's morale is at rock bottom in the midst of its struggle to avoid playing outside the top-flight for the first time since 1954.

"There's a big challenge ahead, but one I'm ready for and want to take on. I'm looking forward to hopefully playing my part and realigning things," Dyche told Everton's website. "We want to change the shape of this club going forwards, remodel it in our style, but remodel it in a way we can win."

Hinting that Everton has lacked fight this season, Dyche said, "We want to put out a team that works, that can fight and wear the badge with pride, beyond the tactical and technical. I'm not questioning any manager who has been here before, I've got to imprint my feeling and my style on it and that's part of what I do. But it starts with hard graft, literally the hard yards. We have to fast-track it. We want truth and honesty, and they will certainly get that from me."

Everton chairman Bill Kenwright added, "He quickly convinced me that he has exactly the right attributes to make himself a great Everton manager — and a man who could inspire our fanbase."

Lampard was dismissed last week after a stretch of nine defeats in 12 Premier League matches, with a dismal loss at relegation rivals West Ham proving the final straw in his troubled reign.

Languishing second from the bottom of the Premier League, Everton had set its sights on former Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa before eventually appointing Dyche. Everton's eighth permanent manager since Farhad Moshiri took ownership of the club in 2016 is aware that some fans have already criticized his appointment.

'Under no illusions'

Dyche's Burnley team was known for hard work rather than the quality of its often-rudimentary attacking play, but the new Everton boss defended his philosophy.

"I've seen all the white noise at what's going on but — at the end of the day — just give us a start and we will pay you back. That's all I can ask for," Dyche said. "I am under no illusions. I have to earn my right as manager here. I don't expect a free ride from fans. Even with the players, I have to earn that. I don't expect them to just do what we ask."

Dyche, who also previously managed Watford, was sacked by Burnley last April before the club's relegation from the Premier League. He overachieved on a tight budget during his 10-year Burnley reign, winning promotion from the Championship twice and keeping them in the Premier League for several years.

The pressure will be far higher at Everton, who narrowly avoided relegation under Lampard last season. In a sign of the turmoil enveloping Everton, club directors were earlier this month ordered to stay away from Goodison Park due to perceived security risks.

Hampered by the sale of Brazilian forward Richarlison to Tottenham in the offseason, Everton has managed only three wins in 20 league games this season against a backdrop of mounting fan fury. There have been widespread protests against the board during recent games. Supporters staged a sit-in demonstration after the loss to Southampton, with Everton defender Yerry Mina and teammate Anthony Gordon confronted by fans when they left Goodison Park in their cars. Former youth team player Gordon, 21, joined high-flying Newcastle United on Sunday for a fee that could reportedly rise to £45 million ($56 million).

"Anyone can take the wheel in calm waters but it's not calm waters at the minute," Dyche said.

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© Agence France-Presse