Sean Dyche SACKED by Everton after wretched run leaves Toffees in relegation mire
Sean Dyche's time as Everton manager has come to an end after two years, with the relegation-threatened club's new owners The Friedkin Group giving him his marching orders
by Tom Victor · The MirrorEverton have sacked manager Sean Dyche in a bid to pull away from relegation danger.
Former Burnley boss Dyche took over in January 2023 after predecessor Frank Lampard left the team 19th in the Premier League. He secured survival on the final day of that season thanks to a 1-0 victory over Bournemouth, and stayed well clear of relegation last term despite two separate points deductions.
This season, however, things have been tougher. Key player Amadou Onana left over the summer, and Dyche's Everton started slowly while waiting for centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite to return from injury.
After losing their first four games of the season - throwing away two-goal leads on two occasions - Everton lost just one of their next eight games. They have endured a tough December and January, though, winning just once in seven outings to find themselves dragged back into the relegation picture.
Dyche's contract was due to expire at the end of the season, but he indicated in December that new owners the Friedkin Group had given him their initial backing. TFG completed their takeover earlier that month, and Dyche indicated he would be proud of his achievements at Goodison Park regardless of his future.
“It’s a strange situation here because on the one hand, you’re not winning as many games and everyone is saying ‘why aren’t you winning more games?’,” he said. “On the other hand, you’re looking at the bigger picture and going ‘Yeah, I’m very proud of my part, although it’s not just me, but I’m very proud of that. That’ll never change regardless of what my future is here, that will never change.
“People will never, ever know what it feels like to be here, dealing with what this club has been going through and still trying to manage it, make it successful, or have relative success, trying to win games. But like I say, the bigger picture of football is very rarely judged. The judging bit is every weekend or every during the week. When the next game comes, that’s the judgment day.”
Were Everton right to sack Sean Dyche? Have your say in the comments section
Everton lost 1-0 at Bournemouth in their most recent Premier League game, allowing Andoni Iraola's side to complete a league double. The Cherries needed two stoppage-time goals to win at Goodison in August, but a solitary David Brooks effort was enough to make the difference at the Vitality Stadium.
"A really tight game," Dyche told Match of the Day after the defeat on the south coast. "First half we were not at the races and I made some changes. I thought we had a stronger performance second half, and asked some questions. Taking our chances has been a challenge since I've been at the club, it still is and was today in those key areas where people are trying to pass it rather than shoot.
"You look at the goalscoring records before I was here, it's been an ongoing challenge. I don't know whether you've noticed but the players to do that cost a lot of money. You have to develop a way of playing but equally it comes down to individuals when the moment of truth comes."
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