Sean Dyche leading the list of contenders to replace Frank Lampard as Everton boss

Former Derby and Chelsea boss Lampard won just nine and lost 21 of his 38 Premier League matches in charge and departs eight days before the first anniversary of his appointment.

Everton have scored just 34 goals during that period, and this season they have 15 goals in 20 games and have managed to score more than once in a game twice this season.

It leaves the club looking for an eighth permanent manager since May 2016 with a first relegation since 1951 looming large.

The odds on former Everton striker Duncan Ferguson, who left the club's coaching staff in the summer to pursue managerial opportunities but has yet to find a job, have shortened - especially as he has already done the caretaker job for the Toffees on two previous short-lived occasions after the departures of Marco Silva in 2019 and Benitez last year.

Another ex-Toffees favourite Wayne Rooney, currently in charge at Major League Soccer side DC United, has also been touted as a successor as has former Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa.

Former Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl, who was in consideration before Lampard was given the job last year but was still employed by Saints, is another option as is Nuno Espirito Santo.

Everton's director of football Kevin Thelwell has previously worked under Nuno at Wolves but the Portuguese is currently in charge at at Saudi Arabian side Al-Ittihad and has a reported £8million buy-out clause.

Dyche has been out of work - which would be considered a plus point by a club still wrestling with profit and sustainablity rules - since his near decade-long stay at Burnley ended in April. The 51-year-old is well versed in surviving relegation battles and his common-sense approach and hard-working style might be what Everton need - but he is unlikely to be a popular choice among fans.

The former Toffees boss, a particular favourite of chairman Bill Kenwright, has had his name on the list of potential candidates a couple of times since leaving in 2013 after 11 years of relative success. His position at West Ham has been questioned and unless he is sacked in the near future it would be a surprise to see him swap the squad and resources he has available in London for a sentimental return to Goodison.

A return to his boyhood club for the former Toffees academy graduate would be the romantic option and get the fans' backing but his managerial credentials are still untested at the highest level having been relegated from the Championship with a financially-stricken Derby. Currently in charge of MLS side DC United but that would not be a barrier.

Nuno is currently the manager of Saudi Professional League club Al-Ittihad but would relish a return to the Premier League. Had some success with Wolves before performances started to tail off but failed at Tottenham. His 'solid' brand of football would not be universally popular.

'Big Sam' spent five-and-a-half months as Everton boss between November 2017 and May 2018, leading them from 13th to an eighth-placed finish in the Premier League. The 68-year-old may be a renowned relegation firefighter but his reappointment would be unpalatable to an already disenchanted fanbase, even with the club in such a perilous position.

Everton hero Ferguson left his coaching role at Goodison in July to pursue managerial ambitions but has yet to find a job. He spent two short spells as caretaker boss as the club pursued yet another permanent manager but his tactical acumen and suitability for a relegation fight remain unproven.

The Argentinian veteran got Leeds back into the Premier League but was sacked with the club threatened by relegation. The time needed to implement his unique coaching methods and complex systems of play would count against him making an immediate impact.