Last 10 Everton Managers in the past 20 years

Despite hitting rock bottom on several fronts in recent years, Everton remains one of the most successful clubs in English football history. Since its inception in 1878 – making it one of the oldest clubs, the Toffees have won 24 major honours, including nine league titles, five FA Cups, and nine Community Shields. Although their heydays precede the formation of the Premier League – mainly during the 80s and dating back to the 60s and before that, Everton have seen some notable managers in recent decades. Let’s have a quick rundown on the 10 best managers the Toffees have witnessed in the last 20 years.

List of Everton managers (last 20)

Name	Years
Gordon Lee	1977-81
Howard Kendall	1981-87
Colin Harvey	1987-90
Howard Kendall	1990-93
Jimmy Gabriel	1993-94
Mike Walker	1994
Joe Royle	1994-97
Dave Watson	1997
Howard Kendall	1997-98
Walter Smith	1998-2002
David Moyes	2002-13
Roberto Martinez	2013-16
Ronald Koeman	2016-17
David Unsworth	2017
Sam Allardyce	2017-18
Marco Silva	2018-19
Carlo Ancelotti	2019-21
Rafael Benitez	2021-22
Frank Lampard	2022-23
Sean Dyche	2023-present

List of last 10 Everton managers (2003-2024)

10. David Moyes | 2002-13

Arguably among the greatest Everton managers in history, David Moyes is also the club’s longest-serving coach, with his tenure spanning a decade. Taking the reigns in 2002, the Scottish gaffer oversaw more than 500 games until bowing out in 2013, creating a dynasty in the process as well as ingraining himself as one of the revered figures in the club’s history. Despite the lack of trophies to boast – which remains the only sticking point during his long spell, Moyes made the Toffees a regular top-half side in the Premier League as well as ensuring a regular European berth.

On a personal note, he owns the record of the fourth manager to record 150 wins in the Premier League after his compatriot Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger and Harry Redknapp. Moyes’ name is more synonymous with Everton, with his fame expanding to the community and his reign will continue to be one of the most significant periods in the club’s timeline. 

9. Roberto Martinez | 2013-16

Robert Martinez was the first manager of the post-David Moyes era and the Spaniard did meet the expectations in his first season. He led the Toffees to a fifth-place finish in the Premier League while achieving the impressive feat of doing a double over Manchester United in the process. However, those signs of promise proved to be a false dawn as he faltered in the following years before getting sacked in 2016 due to the heat from the fans.

8. Ronald Koeman | 2016-17

Ronald Koeman replaced Martinez in 2016 on the back of an excellent spell with Southampton, whom he helped punch above their weight. The Dutch gaffer had a great start at Goodison Park, securing Europa League qualification in his debut season. However, like his predecessor, Koeman struggled to build on the momentum in the following season. Despite having the luxury of a big transfer budget, the former Saints gaffer failed to work wonders with the Toffees, eventually getting replaced just after a year of his appointment when the club hit new lows by dropping into the relegation zone.

Also Read: List of top 10 Manchester City Managers in the last 20 years

7. David Unsworth | 2017

David Unsworth assumed the managerial duties on a caretaker basis upon the departure of Koeman for the second time in the space of a year, however, it ended up as a fleeting spell as the last one. He was in charge for eight games, managing only 2 wins before returning to the reserves, where he would serve as the coach for the next five years before leaving the Toffees for good in 2022. 

6. Sam Allardyce | 2017-18

Everton recruited Sam Allardyce to change the club’s fortunes in 2017 although he had previously announced his managerial retirement at the club level. The Toffees were in a difficult position when Allardyce stepped in and using his wealthy experience, he steadied the ship and led the Merseysiders to an eighth-place finish in his first season in charge. Nevertheless, he wasn’t a popular figure among the fans due to his pragmatic style of play, with the Toffees ranking lower in several attacking metrics. The veteran coach left Goodison Park in May 2018, extending the managerial curse at Everton. 

5. Marco Silva | 2018-19

After spells at Hull City and Watford, Marco Silva moved to Goodison Park in 2018 in the hopes of reviving the club’s fortunes. The Toffees thought they had finally got their man after the Portuguese gaffer led his side to memorable victories over Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal in his first season while finishing eighth. Despite earning a reputation as a giant slayer, Silva’s fortunes took a hit the following season and he eventually bit the dust in December 2019 when the Toffees plummeted to the relegation zone.

4. Carlo Ancelotti | 2019-21

It is a tough pill to swallow that Ancelotti had managed Everton for a brief spell before returning to Real Madrid for his stint, where he would reinstate himself as the world’s best coach after leading the side to two La Liga and Champions League titles. It looked as if the Toffees had seen the light at the end of the tunnel when a high-profile manager like Ancelotti was recruited in 2019 – probably the biggest managerial recruitment in their history. However, for all his reputation and fame, the Italian gaffer couldn’t prevent himself from falling into a whirlwind at a struggling side like the Toffees. Ancelotti fared well in his first season and despite the influx of prolific signings such as Allan and James Rodriguez, things petered out in his sophomore season. He stepped down from his role in 2021.

3. Rafael Benitez | 2021-22

Following Ancelotti’s exit, Everton went for another renowned and experienced manager in Rafael Benitez, who, perhaps, had experienced a hostile reception from the fans before his appointment due to his history with city rivals Liverpool. Despite a promising start, results were hard to come by for the Spaniard, who fell as another victim to the managerial hoodoo at Goodison Park. He was sacked just six and a half months after his arrival. 

2. Frank Lampard | 2022-23

Frank Lampard’s appointment in January 2022 raised a few eyebrows due to him being a relatively novice, having only managed Chelsea previously. Everton were staring down the barrel of relegation when Lampard took over and he had his work cut out. However, the Toffees enjoyed one of the most memorable moments in their final game of the season after beating Crystal Palace to barely avoid the drop zone. The game unfolded thrillingly as the Toffees came from a 2-0 deficit to secure a 3-2 victory, with Lampard masterminding the comeback. The win even sent the fans into delirium as they soon invaded the pitch. However, the memorable night quickly became a distant memory when the former English midfielder faltered in his second season, eventually getting sacked in January 2023. 

Also Read: List of Top 10 Brentford Managers in the Last 20 Years

1. Sean Dyche | 2023- Present

Sean Dyche was the next chosen guy for Everton owner Farhad Moshiri after Lampard and he made an instant impact by defeating Arsenal in his first game in charge. Dyche’s effect was palpable from the first game itself as the Toffees carried on a pragmatic style of play until the end of the season, emphasizing deep defending and counter-attacks. Unfortunately, Dyche’s time collided with Everton’s financial controversies as the club were docked points after being found guilty of breaching Premier League’s FFP regulations. Despite the reduction in points, the Toffees had enough to ensure their safety to play in the league. Dyche’s future has been plunged into doubt after experiencing a tough start to this season, managing only 1 win in 7 games, which leaves Everton in the 16th position.

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