Sean Dyche has been confirmed as the new Everton manager.
The 51-year-old was announced as the new Blues boss on Monday, seven days after the dismissal of Frank Lampard. His appointment had been an open secret since Friday, with footage showing him at the club's Finch Farm training ground over the weekend.
Dyche had always been considered a frontrunner for the role and, with ex-Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa, was interviewed by club chiefs on Thursday before landing the job. He will now be tasked with leading Everton to Premier League survival, with the team currently second from bottom and on a miserable run of form.
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He said: “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.”
Everton chiefs had hoped to quickly replace Lampard so work could begin on preparations for the next game, at home to league leaders Arsenal.
Dyche's appointment gives him a full week on the training ground with the first team squad ahead of that match. He will continue to work with director of football Kevin Thelwell to strengthen the team in the final days of the January transfer window. Thelwell's work in the transfer market remained ongoing over the weekend. Everton are yet to make a signing this month despite it having long been accepted within the club that new additions were desperately needed.
Dyche brings with him Ian Woan as Assistant Manager, ex-England international Steve Stone as First-Team Coach, and Mark Howard supporting sports science. Alan Kelly stays on as goalkeeper coach.
Dyche, who spent 10 years at Burnley before being sacked last April, was in competition for the job with with Bielsa, who flew into the UK on Thursday for talks over the position. Bielsa appeared to be the first choice of majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri but, as with the appointment of Lampard 12 months ago, emphasis was placed on this being a team decision.
He has signed a two and a half year contract with the Toffees.
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