Sean Dyche has been appointed as the new manager of Everton, succeeding the dismissed Frank Lampard, with Everton’s next game in the league against Arsenal.
Due to the Premier League’s reluctance to reschedule Arsenal’s game against Everton, we did not have the fortune of playing against a Frank Lampard side.
Arsenal will, however, get to be the first to face Sean Dyche’s Everton.
Don’t be alarmed, however, Dyche has faced Arsenal 15 times and lost 11, winning only one.
Dyche and Marcelo Bielsa, former manager of Leeds United, were the main contenders for the position, with both having held talks with Everton’s management.
Although Bielsa was initially considered the preferred choice of owner, and former Arsenal man, Farhad Moshiri, there were doubts about the cost of his appointment.
Bielsa also had his own reservations about taking over mid-season and the compatibility of the squad with his demanding style.
As a result, Dyche became the front-runner and has now been appointed as their Men’s Senior Team Manager.
Dyche’s coaching staff will include Ian Woan (former Nottingham Forest winger) as Assistant Manager, Steve Stone (ex-England international) as First-Team Coach, and Mark Howard providing sports science support. These three staff members previously worked with Dyche at Burnley.
Dyche said: “It’s an honour to become Everton manager. My staff and I are ready and eager to help get this great club back on track.
“I know about Everton’s passionate fanbase and how precious this club is to them. We’re ready to work and ready to give them what they want. That starts with sweat on the shirt, effort and getting back to some of the basic principles of what Everton Football Club has stood for for a long time.
“We want to bring back a good feeling. We need the fans, we need unity and we need everyone aligned. That starts with us as staff and players.
“Our aim is to put out a team that works, that fights and wears the badge with pride. The connection with the fans can then grow very quickly because they’re so passionate.
“There is quality in this squad. But we have to make them shine. That’s the job of me and my staff.
“We want to change the shape of this club going forward, remodel it in our style, but in a way that we can win. That’s the task in front of us – make sure we’re building, tactically and technically, giving players organisation, allow them the freedom to play, to go and enjoy their football because it’s brilliant when the team’s playing with a smile, but we’ve got to win.”
Arsenal travel to Goodison Park where Everton will no doubt expect to benefit from a new manager bounce on Saturday, 4 February. Kick-off is 12.30pm.