Relegation-threatened Sean Dyche, the former manager of Burnley, was named Everton’s next manager on Monday, taking over from Frank Lampard.
Dyche, who has a two-and-a-half-year contract, faces Premier League leaders Arsenal in his opening game on Saturday at Goodison Park.
The Merseyside club, which hasn’t taken home a trophy since 1995, has been led by the 51-year-old as a “honor.”
In a statement released by the club, Dyche said, “I am aware of the passionate Everton supporter base and how important this club is to them.
“We’re prepared to get to work and ready to provide for their needs. That begins with effort, sweat on the shirt, and returning to some of the core values that Everton Football Club has long stood for.
“We want to restore a positive feeling. We need everyone to be on the same page, the support of the fans, and togetherness. We, the players and staff, must lead by example.
“He soon convinced me that he has exactly the required traits to make himself a great Everton manager,” Everton chairman Bill Kenwright said. “And a man who could motivate our fanbase.”
After nine losses in 12 Premier League games, Lampard was fired last week. His disastrous loss to West Ham, a team battling for relegation, was the tipping point in his turbulent tenure.
Everton is fighting to avoid playing in the lower division of English football for the first time since 1954 as they languish second-to-last in the Premier League.
Since Farhad Moshiri acquired control of the team in 2016, former Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa had also been considered for the position of eighth permanent manager at Everton.
Burnley fired Dyche in April of last year, just before the team was demoted from the Premier League.
During his ten-year tenure, he overachieved at the Clarets, twice guiding them to promotion from the Championship and maintaining them in the Premier League for an extended period of time.
Additionally, he led Burnley to their first European qualification in 50 years after they finished the 2017–18 season in seventh place.
