Despite Everton’s uninspiring record under Sean Dyche, the almost immediate decision by new owners the Friedkin Group to sack the former Watford and Burnley boss came as a surprise.
Less than three weeks after completing their takeover of the club – and 20 days after Dyche described executive chairman Marc Watts as “fully supportive” of him – the Toffees are looking for a new manager to lead them into their new 52,888-seat stadium in Bramley. Moore Dock next season
Jose Mourinho is the highest-profile potential target, while David Moyes and Lee Carsley have a strong history at the club.
101GreatGoals.com takes a look at some of the candidates to succeed Dyche after his two-year stint ends.
2 – In Sean Dyche’s last 10 games in charge of Everton, the only player to score more than once for them was Craig Dawson, who scored two own goals while playing for Wolves in December . Absurdity. pic.twitter.com/SXOlR6k9Gi
– OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 9, 2025
Jose Mourinho
Even if Mourinho’s chances are as slim as his temperament sometimes proves, the three-time Premier League Manager of the Season and two-time Champions League winning coach He seems unlikely to leave Turkish giant Fenerbahce.
As well as his stated lack of appetite for a relegation battle, Mourinho’s relationship with the Friedkin Group was in tatters after they sacked him as manager of their Italian club, Roma, in January 2023.
The 61-year-old responded in typically barbed style, claiming that the organization’s owner, Dan Friedkin, “doesn’t understand football.”
Mourinho is one of the most successful managers in English football history, winning every major domestic trophy at least once at Chelsea, as well as the EFL Cup and Europa League with Manchester United. Would his ego allow him to reconcile with the Friedkins and be content with his survival? 
David Moyes
Moyes made his name during 11 years at Everton, guiding them to eight top seven finishes – including fourth place in 2004/05 – as well as four European campaigns and the 2008/09 FA Cup final.
Such was the Scot’s stock that he briefly took over from Sir Alex Ferguson during an ill-fated tenure at Manchester United in 2013/14, eventually rebuilding his reputation during two spells with West Ham between 2017 and 2024.
The 61-year-old won the Hammers’ first European trophy since 1965 with the 2023/24 Conference League, and his departure at the end of last season had more to do with his team’s perceived style of play than his ninth place.
After receiving an OBE in the New Year Honors last week, Moyes said he was open to a return to football but he would not “want to be at the bottom of the ladder fighting relegation”. He has already mentioned replacing Dyche.
David Moyes has held talks with The Friedkin Group and could make a return to Everton as early as this weekend 🔵 pic.twitter.com/YIw6YGGYRO
– Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) January 9, 2025
Russell Martin
If Everton wish to contrast Mourinho and Moyes’ reputation for caution, Martin’s expansive passing style – praised effusively by Pep Guardiola this season – might appeal.
The 39-year-old honed his style at MK Dons and Swansea City, with his greatest achievement coming at Southampton last season, when his debut campaign ended in promotion through the play-offs.
Betting on Martin would require Everton to ignore Southampton’s terrible start to the season, when their optimistic defense of their tactics seemed naive, rigid and lacking the pragmatism needed to survive in the Premier League with relatively limited resources.
He was fired on December 15 after a 5-0 at home beaten by Tottenham that left the Saints nine points from safety.
“I will live and die by the sword in what I believe” 🗣️
Russell Martin discusses Southampton’s style of play 🔴⚪ pic.twitter.com/K3qInjRtsF
– Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) October 27, 2024
Steve Cooper
Welshman Cooper remains a hero at Nottingham Forest, where he guided the club to the Premier League after less than a season in charge in 2021/22 and kept them there the following year, only for a one-win run in 13 matches to announce the end of his reign in December 2023.
Cooper had become known as an expert in training young players, guiding the England Under-17s to world and European titles and reaching the Championship play-offs in consecutive seasons with Swansea City, culminating in defeat in the 2020 final/ 21.
The 45-year-old was interviewed for the vacant Brighton & Hove Albion job before embarking on an unforgettable five-month spell at Leicester City this season, where a widespread lack of confidence in his methods among fans is said to have been replicated among its players.
The Foxes were 16th after 12 games when they sacked Cooper, who has been unemployed since and may not have emerged with enough credit to land a Premier League job next.
Lee Carsley
Originally signed by his predecessor Walter Smith in 2002, Carsley became an integral part of Moyes’ Everton midfield between 2002 and 2008 and remains highly regarded at the club.
As a manager, his greatest achievement was winning the Under-21 Euros with England in 2023, and he later took over as interim manager of the senior team following the resignation of Gareth Southgate in last July.
Carsley was favorite to become England’s permanent manager after winning his first two matches in charge, but a surprise home defeat to Greece and comments in which he appeared to distance himself from the job meant he was effectively excluded from the race.
The 50-year-old led England to promotion from the Nations League in their subsequent matches and will still be likely to be discussed when Everton need a manager, but the Friedkin group could be keen to appoint one name with which he is more familiar.
“I hope to return to the U21s”
Lee Carsley takes stock of his future 💭 pic.twitter.com/XhOjx20VQY
– Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) October 10, 2024
Andoni Iraola
Perhaps the longest shot on this list, Iraola first caught the eye on a major stage with Spanish side Rayo Vallecano before joining Bournemouth in 2023, where his team has become increasingly impressive .
The Cherries play attractive football and have only once moved above the 12th position they finished in last season, although only West Ham have conceded more goals among the teams not to be relegated.
This time around they have been much tighter, winning nine and losing just five of their opening 20 games, putting them three points behind fourth-placed Chelsea, with the 42-year-old Spaniard watching.
Whether the astute Iraola perceives this approach as a step forward is a matter of conjecture. Although Bournemouth’s history in the top flight is not comparable to Everton’s, it would be a brave choice to abandon his current club’s ambitions for a high-pressure rebuilding job.
Paulo Fonseca
An intriguing option, Fonseca’s parting with the Friedkins seemed amicable when he left Roma at the end of his contract in 2021, having been in charge when the Americans took over the club a year earlier.
The 51-year-old Portuguese is adept at creating an enjoyable – sometimes cavalier – style of play and nurturing young talent, and he has arguably faced some unfortunate circumstances during his time in Rome, including the Covid pandemic and injuries of a series of key players. .
Fonseca has a knack for outplaying underdogs, including taking Pacos Ferreira to the Champions League for the second time in their history and reaching the last 16 with Shakhtar Donetsk as part of a winning campaign against Manchester City.
His dismissal by Milan in December was seen in part as a sign of instability behind the scenes, even though the Rossoneri never seemed to mount the title challenge promised by Fonseca when he arrived in June.
Thomas Franck
Brentford’s poor away form this season has hurt their chances of challenging for European qualification, and there is a feeling Frank may have achieved all he could with the Bees more than six years on the start of his mandate.
Much like Iraola, Everton would need to make a compelling case to lure the 51-year-old from one of the division’s most stable jobs to a much riskier role. A series like the one which saw Brentford lose 14 of their 18 league matches between last November and March would surely not inspire patience.
Frank was linked with Manchester United earlier this season, with reports even suggesting he was auditioning to succeed Erik ten Hag before the doomed former boss secured a 2-1 win over Brentford at Old Trafford.
There is also the question of whether the Friedkins are looking for a bigger name or would view Frank as a risk, given his current position is his only job in England. The call to become boss of Denmark also seems inevitable at some point.
Edin Terzic
Terzic’s final match as manager was last season’s Champions League final, ending an association with Borussia Dortmund that lasted more than a decade with defeat against Real Madrid at Wembley.
The 42-year-old has Premier League experience for two years as Slaven Bilic’s assistant at West Ham, and his Dortmund side would have won the German title in 2022/23 had they not drawn at home against Mainz in their last match of the season. .
Dortmund won the 2020/21 German Cup under Terzic, but their finishing position of fifth last season was their lowest since 2014/15 and they fell out of the title reckoning at an early stage.
The German’s pedigree and availability could attract Everton, in which case Terzic would have to decide whether he wants to challenge in the lower levels of a division for the first time in his managerial career.
Leighton Baines
Born in nearby Kirkby, Baines played for Everton for 13 years and could be as reliable an option as he was when he was a left-back at the club.
The 40-year-old became the club’s academy coach two months after retiring from the game in 2020 and has long been touted as having strong managerial potential.
Whether the move happens now may depend on Everton’s ability to secure their top-choice targets to replace Dyche. Under-18s coach Baines and club captain Seamus Coleman came on as interim substitutes for the 2-0 home win over Peterborough United in the FA Cup third round.
“There will be a new manager coming in – and that creates opportunities,” Baines said afterwards. For now, the former England international is almost certain to return to his role in the youth team.
