Clear early favourite emerges in race to replace Sean Dyche after Everton ruthlessly sack manager

A clear favourite has emerged to take over as Everton manager less than an hour after former manager Sean Dyche was sacked by the club.

Just hours before Everton's FA Cup clash with Peterborough United, the club confirmed that they had parted ways with former manager Dyche in an official statement.

The English manager spent two years in the role after being appointed in January 2023, replacing ex-manager Frank Lampard.

And now, just minutes after news of Dyche's departure was confirmed, a clear favourite has emerged to take over the Everton job.

U-18s head coach Leighton Baines and club captain Seamus Coleman will take on the FA Cup match on Thursday, but neither man is favourite to stay in the role on a permanent basis.

Instead, former West Ham United manager David Moyes has emerged as the clear favourite to become Everton manager.

The Scottish manager is yet to accept a new job since he parted ways with West Ham in May 2024, but was heavily linked with a return to the club in recent days following the sacking of Julen Lopetegui, who replaced Moyes last year.

However, with West Ham confirming former Chelsea manager Graham Potter as their new boss, Moyes will now perhaps look to Everton to make his Premier League return this season.

Moyes is closely in the odds by Premier League legend Jose Mourinho, who admitted earlier in the season that if he were to return to English football it would be to join a club outside of UEFA competitions.

But almost as soon as links between Mourinho and Everton started to emerge, David Ornstein confirmed that neither he, or Everton owners The Friedkin Group, considered the move after they worked together at AS Roma

Sean Dyche managed Everton for 83 matches. (Image: Getty)

Confirming Dyche's departure, Everton's club statement read: "Everton Football Club can confirm that Sean Dyche has been relieved of his duties as Senior Men’s First Team Manager with immediate effect.

"Ian Woan, Steve Stone, Mark Howard and Billy Mercer have also left the Club.

"The process to appoint a new manager is under way and an update will be provided in due course.

"Under-18s Head Coach Leighton Baines and Club Captain Seamus Coleman will take charge of first-team affairs on an interim basis."

Currently, The Toffees sit 16th in the Premier League, having won just three games from 19.