Everton confirm Sam Allardyce as new manager after six-week search

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Sam Allardyce has been confirmed as Everton's new manager on a one-and-a-half year deal.

The former Newcastle, West Ham, Sunderland and England boss returns to the Premier League after leaving Crystal Palace in the summer and replaces Ronald Koeman who was sacked six weeks ago.

Caretaker David Unsworth will remain in charge for Wednesday evening's game with West Ham before returning to the club's Under 23s with Allardyce set to be joined by long-time assistant Sammy Lee.

Allardyce will take the reins for the first time against Huddersfield on Saturday.

Everton said in a short statement: "Sam Allardyce will be at USM Finch Farm this afternoon to finalise terms on becoming the new manager of Everton Football Club.

"David Unsworth will remain in charge of the Blues for tonight's Premier League match against West Ham United at Goodison Park."

Everton, currently 17th in the table, have won just one of the seven games under Unsworth, losing five, and fan opinion turned sharply with their last two outings - a 5-1 home loss to Atalanta and a 4-1 reverse at Southampton.

Allardyce ruled himself out of the running earlier this month, claiming he did not feel the Toffees were convinced he was the right man with the short-term deal on offer also understood to be a sticking point.

But as revealed by The Independent on Monday, after Everton's pursuit of Watford boss Marco Silva was met with a firm rebuttal from Vicarage Road, the club returned to Allardyce.

This will be the 10th English club managerial position of the 63-year-old's career, with Allardyce most recently having guided Crystal Palace to safety last season.

When he left Selhurst Park in May, Allardyce said he had "no ambitions" to take another managerial job.

But the chance to turn around Everton's faltering ship has lured him back, and Allardyce is expected to have a watching brief at Goodison Park on Wednesday night.