Everton have confirmed the appointment of David Moyes as their new manager following the sacking of Sean Dyche.
Dyche was axed after talks with the Friedkin Group earlier this week in which it is understood he told the club’s new owners he believed he had taken them as far as he could, having fallen into another relegation scrap after keeping the Toffees up the previous two seasons.
His departure was announced just hours before the FA Cup third round tie against Peterborough, which Everton won 2-0 with Leighton Baines and Seamus Coleman in interim charge.
Moyes, who will take over with Everton just a point above the bottom three, spent 11 years and more than 500 games in the dugout at Goodison Park before leaving to replace Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United in 2013.
Among the highlights of his tenure on Merseyside were a fourth-place finish in 2004-05, which took Everton to the Champions League qualifying round, and an FA Cup final in 2009.
“It’s great to be back,” Moyes said.
“I enjoyed 11 wonderful and successful years at Everton and didn’t hesitate when I was offered the opportunity to rejoin this great club.
“I’m excited to be working with The Friedkin Group and I am looking forward to helping them rebuild the club.
“Now we need Goodison and all Evertonians to play their part in getting behind the players in this important season so we can move into our fabulous new stadium as a Premier League team.”
The 61-year-old, who left his most recent role with West Ham at the end of last season, is expected to be given a two-and-a-half year deal.
In his second spell at the London Stadium he delivered Conference League glory but also faced persistent scrutiny over his brand of football – a criticism also levelled at Dyche. Nevertheless the Friedkins consider him a safe pair of hands to navigate a turbulent period.
During Dyche’s spell the club was mired in failed takeovers as Farhad Moshiri struggled to sell his majority stake. Breaches of the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) also led to eight points being deducted last season.
Everton fans will hope Moyes can usher in a new dawn and symbolically, the Scotsman will take the reins for the final months at Goodison Park as the club prepares to move into the new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock.
Executive chairman Marc Watts said: “We are pleased that David is joining us at this pivotal time in Everton’s history. With over a decade of experience at the club, he is the right leader to propel us through our final season at Goodison Park and into our new stadium.
“We look forward to working with David to build the foundation of a new era for Everton.”
The club is set to make a further announcement regarding his backroom staff.
Ripped jeans and 1am finishes – my first year in the House of Lords