From Moyes and Mourinho to Carsley and Cooper, 10 contenders after Dyche
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 manager came as a surprise.
Less than three weeks after completing the club’s takeover – and 20 days after Dyche described chief executive Marc Watts as “completely supportive” of him – the Toffees are looking for a new manager to lead them into their new 52,888-capacity stadium in Bramley. Moore Dock next season
Jose Mourinho is the most high-profile potential target, while players such as David Moyes and Lee Carsley have a long history at the club.
101GreatGoals.com takes a look at some of the candidates to replace Dyche after his two-year stay ends.
2 – In Sean Dyche’s last 10 games as Everton manager, the only player to score more than one goal for them was Craig Dawson, who scored two own goals 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 temperament, he is a three-time Premier League coach of the season and a two-time Champions League-winning coach He is unlikely to leave Turkish giants Fenerbahce.
In addition to his stated lack of desire for a relegation battle, the relationship between Mourinho and 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 sharp-tongued 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 all major domestic trophies at least once with Chelsea, as well as the EFL Cup and Europa League with Manchester United. Would his ego allow him to reconcile with the Friedkins and settle for survival? 
David Moyes
Moyes made his name in 11 years at Everton, leading the team to eight top-seven finishes – including fourth place in the 2004/05 season – as well as four European appearances and the 2008/09 FA Cup final.
Such was the Scot’s success that he briefly succeeded Sir Alex Ferguson in an ill-fated spell at Manchester United in 2013/14, eventually rebuilding his reputation over two spells at West Ham between 2017 and 2024.
The 61-year-old won the Hammers’ first European Cup since 1965 in the 2023/24 Conference League and his departure at the end of last season had more to do with his side’s perceived style of play than their ninth-place finish.
After being awarded an OBE in the New Year Honors last week, Moyes said he was open to a return to football but would “not want to be at the bottom of the relegation battle”. He has reportedly already spoken about replacing Dyche.
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
Should Everton seek a contrast to Mourinho and Moyes’ reputation for caution, Martin’s expansive passing style – praised effusively by Pep Guardiola this season – could appeal.
The 39-year-old honed his style at MK Dons and Swansea City, with his greatest success coming last season at Southampton when his first season ended with promotion to the play-offs.
If they were to bet on Martin, Everton would have to ignore Southampton’s terrible start to the season, when their bullish defense of his tactics seemed naive, rigid and lacking the pragmatism needed to survive in the Premier League with relatively limited resources.
He was released on December 15 after a 5-0 home win against Tottenham That left the Saints nine points from safety.
“I will live and die by the sword for what I believe in” 🗣️
Russell Martin talks 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 after less than a season as manager he led the club into the Premier League in the 2021/22 season and kept them there the following year, with only a 13-game winning streak to match that End heralded the end of his reign in December 2023.
Known as an expert at coaching young players, Cooper led the England under-17s to World and European titles and reached the Championship play-offs with Swansea City in successive seasons, culminating in defeat in the 2020/21 final.
The 45-year-old was interviewed for Brighton & Hove Albion’s vacant position before embarking on a forgettable five-month spell at Leicester City this season, where a widespread lack of confidence in his methods among fans was also reported to be among his players reflected.
The Foxes were in 16th place after 12 games when they sacked Cooper, who has since been unemployed and may not have enough credit to get a Premier League job next.
Lee Carsley
Originally signed by predecessor Walter Smith in 2002, Carsley became an integral part of Moyes’ midfield at Everton between 2002 and 2008 and remains highly regarded at the club.
As a coach, his greatest success was winning the 2023 European Under-21 Championship with England, and he took charge of the senior team on an interim basis following Gareth Southgate’s resignation last July.
Carsley was the favorite to become England’s permanent manager after winning his first two games in charge, but a shock home defeat to Greece and comments in which he appeared to distance himself from the job led to him being effectively ruled out the race dropped out.
The 50-year-old led England to promotion to the Nations League in his subsequent games and is likely to be in the conversation whenever Everton need a coach, but the Friedkin Group could be interested in appointing a name with which they are more familiar .
“Hopefully I’ll go back to the U21s”
Lee Carsley gives an update on his future 💭 pic.twitter.com/XhOjx20VQY
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) October 10, 2024
Andoni Iraola
Perhaps the furthest player on this list, Iraola first attracted attention on the big stage with Spanish club Rayo Vallecano before moving to Bournemouth in 2023, where his team became increasingly impressive.
The Cherries play attractive football and have only managed to climb above the 12th place finish they finished last season once, although only West Ham have conceded more goals among the teams that avoided relegation.
This time they were much more competitive, winning nine and losing just five of their first 20 games, leaving them three points behind fourth-placed Chelsea under the 42-year-old Spaniard’s leadership.
Whether the clever Iraola would see a rapprochement as a step up is a matter of conjecture. While Bournemouth’s history in the top flight is not comparable to that of Everton, it would be a brave decision to abandon his current club’s ambitions and commit to a high-pressure rebuild.
Paulo Fonseca
An interesting option, as Fonseca’s split with the Friedkins appeared to be amicable as 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 developing a comfortable – sometimes carefree – style of play and nurturing young talent. He arguably faced unfortunate circumstances during his time in Rome, including dealing with the Covid pandemic and injuries to a number of key players.
Fonseca has a knack for overcoming underdogs, including leading Pacos Ferreira to the Champions League for the second time in its history and reaching the round of 16 with Shakhtar Donetsk as part of a season that included a win over Manchester City.
His sacking by Milan in December was partly seen as a sign of instability behind the scenes, although the Rossoneri never looked like they would mount the title challenge that Fonseca had promised when he arrived in June.
Thomas Frank
Brentford’s poor 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 more than six years into his tenure with the Bees.
Much like Iraola, Everton would have to make a convincing case to lure the 51-year-old from one of the most stable jobs in the division to a far riskier role. Such a run, which saw Brentford lose 14 of their 18 league games between November and March, would certainly not inspire patience.
Frank was linked with Manchester United earlier this season. He was even reportedly in the running to succeed Erik ten Hag before the doomed former manager secured a 2-1 comeback win over Brentford at Old Trafford.
There is also the question of whether the Friedkins would pursue a bigger name or view Frank as a risk given his current position is his only job in England. The call to become Denmark’s boss also seems inevitable at some point.
Edin Terzic
Terzic’s last game as coach was last season’s Champions League final, ending more than a decade of collaboration with Borussia Dortmund Lost to Real Madrid at Wembley Stadium.
The 42-year-old has Premier League experience from two years as assistant to Slaven Bilic at West Ham, and his Dortmund team would have won the German title in 2022/23 had they not drawn at home to Mainz in the final game of the season.
Dortmund won the 2020/21 German Cup under Terzic, but last season’s fifth place finish was their lowest since 2014/15 and they were eliminated from the title standings early on.
The German’s pedigree and availability could attract Everton. In that case, Terzic would have to decide whether to seek a challenge at the bottom 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 the club’s left-back.
The 40-year-old became the club’s academy coach two months after retiring from playing in 2020 and has long been touted as a strong manager.
Whether this move comes to fruition now may depend on whether Everton can secure their core players to replace Dyche. U18 coach Baines and club captain Seamus Coleman stepped in on an interim basis for the 2-0 home win against Peterborough United in the third round of the FA Cup.
“There will be a new manager coming in – and that brings with it opportunities,” Baines said afterwards. For now, it is all but certain that the former England international will return to his role in the youth team.
