Sean Dyche joined Everton on 30 January 2023. A highly-regarded manager, Dyche arrived at Goodison Park with a team of trusted coaching staff from his successful spell at Burnley.
Kettering-born Dyche continuously impressed during his 11 years at Turf Moor, breaking a host of club records and consistently exceeding expectations placed on the Clarets.
He joined Burnley in late 2012, succeeding Eddie Howe, who had left to return to Bournemouth. The following season, Dyche led Burnley to their best-ever start to a season, before winning promotion to the Premier League following a four-year absence.
Although Dyche was unable to keep the Clarets in the top-flight during their first season, he guided Burnley to an immediate Premier League return in 2015/16, sealing the achievement following a 1-0 win over Queens Park Rangers at Turf Moor.
He signed a new contract at the club in January 2018 after securing an outstanding seventh-placed finish in the Premier League. It was in Burnley’s second successive top-flight season after finishing 16th the previous year.
On the march to European competition, Dyche’s side amassed 54 points and conceded just 39 goals in 38 games. It was the Clarets’ first taste of European action in more than half a century and the club’s highest-placed finish since claiming sixth spot in 1974.
Dyche’s achievement was acknowledged and rewarded by the locals. Nearby, 'The Princess Royal' pub was renamed 'The Royal Dyche' in honour of the Burnley manager.
Such defensive solidity became associated with Dyche, as he continued to utilise intelligent defensive structures to earn Burnley priceless Premier League points.
But Burnley continued to be amongst the bookies’ favourites for relegation in the seasons that followed. Despite this Dyche’s guided his men to safety on three more occasions, finishing 15th, 10th, and 17th.
On 15 April 2022, Dyche departed Burnley after nine and a half years and at the end of that season, Burnley were relegated on the final day of the campaign.
Before Burnley, Dyche was a coach at Watford. He joined the club as an Under-18s coach in 2007 and was made Assistant Manager of the first team when Malky Mackay joined as Hornets manager.
Mackay left to join Cardiff City in June 2011, with Dyche promoted to the manager’s position and the 11th-placed finish in his first season in charge was Watford’s best finish in four years.
Prior to his coaching years, Dyche enjoyed a successful career as a player. He was a youth-team player at Nottingham Forest in the late 1980s, while Brian Clough was manager. However, a broken leg suffered early in his career stunted Dyche’s progress and left him with a permanent bend in his leg.
He left Forest in early 1990 without making a first-team appearance and signed for Chesterfield, where he later became captain. Dyche was also part of the team that reached the FA Cup semi-finals in 1997.
In the FA Cup semi-final against Middlesbrough, he scored a penalty to put his side 2–0 up in an eventual 3–3 draw. Chesterfield lost the replay 3–0.
Dyche left Chesterfield for Bristol City in 1997, helping them win promotion to Division One in his first season. The club were relegated the following season, during which Dyche spent time on loan at Luton Town.
He moved to Millwall at the end of the campaign, where he won promotion to Division One in 2001, alongside Everton favourite Tim Cahill. Dyche came close to helping the London side secure a Premier League place the following year, losing to eventual promotion winners Birmingham City in the play-offs.
In 2002, he began a three-year spell at Watford where he was captain in his final season with the club.
He signed for Northampton Town in 2005 and was involved in their 2005/06 promotion from League Two.
Dyche eventually retired from playing before immediately starting his coaching journey.
