Reasons why it won’t happen despite bookies tipping him as favorite to succeed Dyche under pressure
Jose Mourinho has been installed as the bookies’ favorite to take over at Everton if they decide to sack Sean Dyche, but there are several reasons why the prospect of the Portuguese moving to Merseyside seems a non-starter.
Dyche is under pressure after a poor run of form has seen the Toffees drop to 16th in the Premier League, within one point of the relegation places.
Everton have won just one of their last 10 league games – a convincing 4-0 win over Wolves on December 4. But in the other nine games in that period, they have drawn five and lost four, scoring just one goal in the process.
It’s a sequence that new owners, the Friedkin Group, are unlikely to look kindly on, especially as Premier League survival is more important than ever this season with the club moving to their new Bramley Dock stadium in 2025-26.
What do the bookies say?
Mourinho is 4/5 favorite with BetVictor, while Unibet, LiveScoreBet and BetMGM have him at 3/4.
BetMGM’s UK director, Sam Behar, said: “Is the Premier League ready for more Jose Mourinho? Well, our betting suggests ‘The Special One’ could be set for another stint in England with Everton.
“He is 3/4 to replace Sean Dyche under pressure at Goodison Park ahead of former Toffees boss David Moyes.
“There are a whole host of other names but Mourinho is the clear favorite in what would be a real coup for the Merseyside club.”
BetMGM have Moyes at 4/1, David Wagner at 9/1 and Steve Cooper and Russell Martin at 14s each.
Could it happen?
The last one ever @EmiratesFACup third round tie at Goodison Park. COYB!⏳ pic.twitter.com/d0kUSdHtMn
— Everton (@Everton) January 9, 2025
Well, first and foremost, Dyche is still in place although unrest is growing from a fan base that has been extremely patient despite a few years of uninspiring football.
Everton play Peterborough United tonight in the third round of the FA Cup, assuming the game gets the green light. Defeat is unlikely, but the next two Premier League games, home clashes with Aston Villa and Tottenham, could decide Dyche’s fate.
Mourinho took over Turkish side Fenerbahce in June and has done a solid job. Fener are second in the Super League but are unlikely to win the title due to the excellence of rivals Galatasaray, who are eight points clear at the top.
Stumbling block
It is not certain that Mourinho would want to trade Istanbul for Merseyside. Fenerbahce is a club with a large fan base and almost certainly guarantees European football every season.
Barring an unlikely FA Cup culminating success at Wembley, Everton won’t be playing continental football any time soon.
Indeed, more years of toil and struggle seem more likely, with Mourinho previously speaking of his lack of appetite for a relegation battle.
He told Sky Sports in October: “Honestly, it has to be the hardest thing, much harder than playing for titles. Emotionally it is very, very difficult because it is something that changes lives. You know, if you stay in the Premier League or get relegated, it changes lives, it changes a lot of things. Brave guys who do it.”
Mourinho also previously worked with the Friedkin Group.
As Roma’s owners, they sacked the two-time Champions League winner after they felt he was not getting value for money from an expensively assembled squad.
At the time of his sacking last January, the Giallorossi were ninth in Serie A and fighting for Champions League qualification.
Afterwards, Mourinho claimed he was “eliminated by someone who doesn’t understand football”, referring to Dan Friedkin.
It seems unlikely that he would go down that road again.
