David Moyes makes a sensational return to Everton after Sean Dyche was sacked by new owners The Friedkin Group just hours before the FA Cup tie.

David Moyes has made a sensational return to Everton after being appointed to succeed Sean Dyche as manager.

Moyes, 61, is back at Goodison Park 12 years after leaving to replace Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United. He met with club officials on Friday and agreed to take over.

Mail Sport revealed on Friday that Moyes was expected to sign terms running until June 2027, with Everton confirming his appointment on Saturday morning.

Moyes has spent the last 48 hours working on the make-up of his backroom staff and will be joined at Goodison Park by long-term ally Billy McKinlay.

Upon his return, Moyes said: 'It's fantastic to be back! I enjoyed 11 wonderful and successful years at Everton and I didn't hesitate when I was offered the opportunity to rejoin this great club.

“We now need Goodison and all Evertonians to play their part in supporting the players in this important season so we can move into our fabulous new stadium as a Premier League team.”

Former Everton manager David Moyes has made a sensational return to Goodison Park

Sean Dyche has been sacked as Everton manager and the club faces another relegation fight

Moyes previously held the role at Goodison Park between February 2002 and May 2013.

Dyche was sensationally sacked on Thursday, just hours before Everton's 2-0 win over Peterborough in the FA Cup third round.

There had been speculation all week about Dyche's position, fueled by Everton making an inquiry to Graham Potter's representatives on Monday at the time David Sullivan was interviewing the new West Ham manager to succeed Julen Lopetegui.

The Friedkin Group, whose acquisition of Farhad Moshiri was confirmed on December 19 last year, had been assessing the situation around Dyche (accelerated by last Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Bournemouth) and concerns were growing after a spell of one victory in 11 games.

Dyche is understood to have been close to leaving Everton on Wednesday night but reported to Finch Farm for a light training session on Thursday morning. There was an atmosphere of unease at the club and, four hours before kick-off, the decision was made to end his two-year reign.

Everton issued a terse four-sentence statement to confirm that Dyche and his assistants Ian Woan, Steve Stone, Mark Howard and Billy Mercer had left the club after two years and that the process of recruiting a new manager had begun.

Although José Mourinho, who worked for The Friedkin Group at Roma, was linked with the job, it quickly became clear that Moyes was the overwhelming favorite to take the position he previously held from February 2002 to May 2013.

Moyes came close to returning to Everton once before and was interviewed in Munich by Moshiri in December 2019, but was usurped at the last minute when the Iranian billionaire suddenly jumped at the chance to appoint Carlo Ancelotti.

The Scot has been out of work since leaving West Ham at the end of last season but has since appeared as a pundit on Match of the Day.

Moyes guided Everton to the qualifying rounds of the Champions League after finishing fourth ahead of Liverpool in the 2004–05 season, as well as the round of 16 of the UEFA Cup in 2008. He also led the club to the 2009 FA Cup final, where The Toffees were defeated by Chelsea.

Everton confirmed Dyche's departure in a brief statement on Thursday. Everton Football Club can confirm that Sean Dyche has been relieved of his duties as manager of the men's first team with immediate effect. Ian Woan, Steve Stone, Mark Howard and Billy Mercer have also left the Club.

Everton are one point clear of the relegation zone after winning three league games all season.

Moyes has been out of work since leaving West Ham (pictured after winning the Europa Conference League)

'The process to appoint a new Manager is underway 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.

Baines and Coleman oversaw victory against League One strugglers Peterborough to book Everton's place in the FA Cup fourth round.

Moyes will be tasked with keeping Everton in the Premier League, with the club 16th in the table, one point outside the relegation zone.

The Toffees have won just three league games all season and will be hoping to improve their form following Moyes' appointment.