Next Everton Manager: Five names in with a shout to replace Frank Lampard
It seemed inevitable that the loser at the London Stadium over the weekend would face the axe. Now, after Frank Lampard's Everton put in another lacklustre show in their 2-0 loss, the former Chelsea great has been relieved of his duties as manager at Goodison Park.
Lampard had been in the role just over a year, with the former Derby and Chelsea boss galvanising the fanbase after the removal of the deeply unpopular Rafa Benitez in winter of 2021/22. Lampard did not oversee an immediate change in fortune but toward the end of last season managed to secure enough points to keep the Toffees up and earn another season in charge.
Starting the season looking as poor as they have, however, Lampard's lack of a plan to turn things around seems to have been his undoing on Merseyside. After yet another managerial change in the chaotic Moshiri era, Everton are once more on the lookout for a head coach to come in and stave off relegation.
Facing up to an uninspiring playing squad, mutinous fanbase and perilous league position, we’ve looked at five potential candidates for one of the toughest jobs in world football…
Sean Dyche
This is a marriage that has seemed almost inevitable for years, with Dyche linked to Everton a host of times in the past both when with Burnley and when out of work. Known for getting the best out of a limited squad with his direct but effective style of football, the no-nonsense approach of Dyche and his underappreciated eye for a bargain in the transfer market could be the perfect match for the 2023 vintage of Everton.
The Goodison Park faithful gave up long ago on seeing an attractive brand of football at their home and now would surely settle for anyone who can come in and has a proven track record of getting results. Dyche has that in abundance after years of overachievement at Burnley and would be a smart appointment, as the betting suggests with him the early favourite.
Marcelo Bielsa
The two leading names in contention to take over at Everton could hardly be more contrasting in terms of what they want to see from their side. Marcelo Bielsa is a legend in coaching circles and the enigmatic Argentinian is still deified at Elland Road for his brilliant spell at Leeds United which saw them romp to Championship promotion before solidifying as a Premier League side once again.
Things went sour at the end and with Leeds destined for the drop, Bielsa was relieved of his duties much to the despair of many fans. His style of play is exhilarating when executed correctly but requires a level of fitness this Everton squad simply do not possess. Bielsa's lack of plan B when in trouble at Leeds would also count against him, as well as the fact he doesn't just take any job offer and is selective with where he goes. Despite his short odds, this one looks unlikely.
David Moyes
Despite picking up the win that pretty much sealed Lampard's fate and created the vacancy at Goodison Park, David Moyes at West Ham is far from out of the woods. If he were to stay in charge at the Hammers and lose a few more games he would surely face the same fate as Lampard and that could pave the way for his return to Goodison.
Known to still be held in high regard by influential board member Bill Kenwright, Moyes' return to Everton after the way he left for Manchester United nearly a decade ago would cause much confusion on the terraces. What cannot be doubted, however, is his suitability for the role. Moyes was incredibly successful last time at Everton and has proven throughout his career he is a capable firefighter with struggling sides. His preferred style of play, making his team hard to beat, would suit what Everton needs right now so don't rule this one out. Stranger things have happened in football.
Wayne Rooney
The romantic story but arguably the riskiest of them all would be if Everton were to go back to former star Wayne Rooney to guide them clear of trouble. In two spells at the club Rooney won, lost, and then won back the hearts of the Goodison faithful and would certainly bring the fans right back onside were he to be appointed.
The boyhood Evertonian has shown he is a skilled coach in his troubled time at Derby, when the club were in administration and facing extinction yet still performing on the field. Many would expect Rooney to be more of a motivating man manager than a top tactical mind but those closer to him have said he has a clear vision of how he wants his teams to play.
It would be an enormous gamble were Everton to turn to Rooney in this hour of need after shunning him last season in a similar position, but for the neutral, it would certainly be the most compelling storyline and he would certainly get Goodison pumping again.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Another legendary former Premier League and Manchester United striker in the odds list, but one of the outsiders, is Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. After an unsuccessful spell in charge of Cardiff, it seemed Solskjaer's time as a Premier League manager was over and he returned to Norway for a successful title-winning spell at Molde.
To the surprise of everyone in world football it seemed, after Manchester United ditched Jose Mourinho they turned to their iconic former number 20 to steady the ship as caretaker manager. He did more than that, revitalising some flatlining star players and steering the Red Devils back up the table. He was given the job full time but things quickly went sour.
Since being sacked at Old Trafford mid-season last campaign, Solskjaer has taken some time out of management. He has proven himself as a great manager to turn things around at a failing club like United and could be on the shortlist for the Everton board. At massive odds of 40/1, he looks a touch overpriced compared to some other names on the list.