Despite Everton’s uninspiring record under Sean Dyche, new owners the Friedkin Group’s almost immediate decision to sack the former Watford and Burnley boss came as a surprise.
Less than three weeks after completing the 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 capacity ground at Bramley- Moore Dock next season
Jose Mourinho is the most popular potential target, while the likes of 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 stay ends.
2 – In Sean Dyche’s last 10 games in charge of Everton, the only player to score more than once was Craig Dawson, who scored two own goals while playing for Wolves in December. Nonsense. pic.twitter.com/SXOlR6k9Gi
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 9, 2025
Jose Mourinho
While Mourinho’s chances are as slim as his composure occasionally proves, the three-time Premier League manager of the season and two-time Champions League winner he seems unlikely to leave Turkish giants Fenerbahce.
Apart from his stated lack of appetite for a relegation battle, Mourinho’s relationship with the Friedkin Group has been strained since he was sacked as manager of their Italian side Roma in January 2023.
The 61-year-old responded in typically barbed fashion by 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 mess with the Friedkins and settle for survival? 
David Moyes
Moyes made his name during 11 years at Everton, guiding them to eight top-seven finishes – including fourth in 2004/05 – along with four European campaigns and the 2008/09 FA Cup final.
Such was the Scot’s stock that he briefly succeeded Sir Alex Ferguson in an ill-fated spell at Manchester United in 2013/14, eventually building his reputation after 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 exit at the end of last season had more to do with his club’s perceived style of play than ninth place.
After being awarded an OBE at the New Year Awards last week, Moyes said he is open to a return to football but I wouldn’t “want to be at the bottom for relegation”. According to information, he has already discussed replacing Dietz.
David Moyes has held talks with The Friedkin Group and could return to Everton as early as this weekend 🔵 pic.twitter.com/YIw6YGGYRO
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) January 9, 2025
Russell Martin
If Everton want a contrast to Mourinho and Moyes’ reputation for attention, Martin’s expansive passing style – widely praised by Pep Guardiola this season – could appeal.
The 39-year-old honed his style at MK Dons and Swansea City, with his best achievement coming at Southampton last season when his first campaign ended with promotion via the play-offs.
A bet on Martin would require Everton to ignore Southampton’s terrible start to the season, when his tactically towering defense looked naïve, 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 home defeat by Tottenham which 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 led the club to the Premier League after less than a season in charge in 2021/22 and kept it on the following year, only for a 13-game winning streak to herald the end of his reign in December 2023.
Cooper had become known as an expert at coaching young players, guiding England under-17s to world and European titles and reaching the Championship play-offs in back-to-back seasons with Swansea City, culminating in their final defeat 2020/21.
The 45-year-old interviewed for the vacant Brighton & Hove Albion job before embarking on a memorable five-month spell at Leicester City this season, where the widespread lack of faith in his methods among fans was replicated in his players.
The Foxes were 16th after 12 games when they sacked Cooper, who has since been unemployed and may not have sufficient credits to find work in the Premier League next.
Lee Carsley
Originally signed by his predecessor Walter Smith in 2002, Carsley became an integral part of Moyes’ midfield at Everton between 2002 and 2008 and remains highly popular at the club.
As a manager, his biggest achievement was winning the Euro Under-21s with England in 2023, and he went on to take charge of the coaching staff on an interim basis after Gareth Southgate resigned last July.
Carsley was the favorite to become England manager permanently after winning his first two games in charge, but a surprise home defeat to Greece and comments in which he appeared to be walking away from the job meant he effectively ruled himself out.
The 50-year-old has led England to promotion to the Nations League in his next few games and is always likely to be discussed when Everton need a manager, but the Friedkin Group may want to name a name they are more familiar with.
“I hope to return to the U21s”
Lee Carsley gives an update on his future 💭 pic.twitter.com/XhOjx20VQY
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) October 10, 2024
Anthony Iraola
Perhaps the longest shot on this list, Iraola first caught the eye on the big stage with Spanish side Rayo Vallecano before moving to Bournemouth in 2023, where his side have become increasingly impressive.
The Cherries play attractive football and have only gone higher than their 12th place finish last season, although only West Ham have conceded more goals than the teams who shouldn’t have been relegated.
They have been far more airtight this time around, winning nine and losing just five of their opening 20 games, leaving them three points behind fourth-placed Chelsea under the 42-year-old Spaniard’s watch.
Whether the astute Iraola would see an approach as a step up is anyone’s guess. While Bournemouth’s history in the top flight doesn’t compare to Everton’s, it would be a brave call for him to abandon his current club’s ambitions for a high-pressure rebuilding job.
Paulo Fonseca
An interesting choice, Fonseca’s split with Friedkins appeared 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 a pleasing – occasionally cavalier – style of play and nurturing young talent and has undoubtedly faced unfortunate circumstances during his time in Rome, including navigating the Covid pandemic and injuries to a number of key players. .
Fonseca has a knack for underdogs, including taking Pacos Ferreira into the Champions League for the second time in her history and reaching the last 16 with Shakhtar Donetsk as part of a win over Manchester City.
His sacking from Milan in December was partly seen as a sign of instability behind the scenes, although the Rossoneri never looked like the title challenge Fonseca had promised when he arrived in June.
Thomas Frank
Brentford’s terrible away form this season has hurt their chances of challenging for European qualification and there is a feeling that Frank may have achieved as much as he can with the Bees over six years into his tenure.
Like Iraola, Everton would have to make a convincing case to lure the 51-year-old from one of the division’s more stable jobs to a much riskier role. A run like that which saw Brentford lose 14 of their 18 league games between last November and March would certainly not breed patience.
Frank was linked with Manchester United earlier this season, with reports even suggesting he was auditioning to take over from 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 seeking a bigger name or would see Frank as a risk given his current position has been his only job in England. A call to become Denmark boss also seems inevitable at some point.
Edin Terzic
Terzic’s last game as manager was last season’s Champions League final, ending a relationship with Borussia Dortmund that lasted more than a decade with defeat by Real Madrid at Wembley.
The 42-year-old has Premier League experience from two years as assistant to Slaven Bilic at West Ham and his Dortmund side would have won the German title in 2022/23 but for a draw at home to Mainz in the final game of the season. .
Dortmund won the 2020/21 German Cup under Terzic, but their fifth-place finish last season was their lowest since 2014/15 and they missed out on the title at an early stage.
The German’s pedigree and availability could tempt Everton, so Terzic will have to decide whether he wants a lower division challenge 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 during his days at left-back for the club.
The 40-year-old became academy coach at the club two months after retiring from the game in 2020 and has long been touted as having strong coaching potential.
Whether that move is made now may depend on whether Everton can secure their first-choice targets to replace Dyche. Under-18s manager Baines and club captain Seamus Coleman were temporarily involved in the 2-0 win at home to Peterborough United in the FA Cup third round.
“A new manager is coming in – and that brings opportunities,” Baines said afterwards. For now, the former England international is almost certain to return to his youth team role.
