Sam Allardyce confirmed as new Everton manager

Everton have named Sam Allardyce as their new manager on an 18-month contract. Former Leicester City boss Craig Shakespeare and long-time Allardyce assistant Sammy Lee have also joined the backroom team at Goodison Park following the dismissal of Ronald Koeman and his staff in October.

News of the appointment which sees the former England manager return to club football after six months was confirmed via the club's majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri in a statement released through talkSPORT's Jim White.

"I really want to give him the support he needs. He can go as far as he wants. We need a strong leader, he gives us that," the statement read.

An official statement from the club is expected in due course.

Allardyce will be in attendance at Goodison tonight (29 November) where caretaker boss David Unsworth will take charge for the final time against another former Everton coach in David Moyes – appointed West Ham manager earlier this month.

Unsworth is expected to return to his former role as Under-23 head coach.

Allardyce initially ruled himself out of the running to succeed Koeman on Merseyside just two weeks ago as Everton shifted their focus to Watford boss Marco Silva. But after being met with stern resistance by the Hornets hierarchy, Everton returned to Allardyce with fears of a relegation battle growing by the week.

The new Toffees boss will be tasked with rescuing Everton's dismal 2017-18 campaign, with the club sat just two points above the relegation zone after 13 games played. The former Bolton Wanderers, Blackburn Rovers, Newcastle United, West Ham and Sunderland boss has brought in old ally Shakespeare to help him achieve that, having worked together during the former's ill-fated spell as England boss.

Shakespeare returns to the dugout after being replaced by Claude Puel as Leicester City manager in October, just five months on from signing a three-year deal at the King Power Stadium.