Premier League: Sam Allardyce named Everton coach

Nov. 29 (UPI) -- Everton FC named Sam Allardyce their new manager on Wednesday, announcing that he would be at the club to finalize terms.

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

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

Unsworth was serving as caretaker for the Toffees for their 4-0 win Wednesday against West Ham at Goodison Park, watching Wayne Rooney net a hat trick. He is the club's under-23 team manager and will go back to that role upon Allardyce's tenure.

Allardyce, 63, takes over for Ronald Koeman, who was fired in October. Everton ranked No. 18 in the Premier League at the time of Koeman's departure.

The manager left his post at Crystal Palace in May after just five months on the job.

In May, the Dutchman said that he had "no ambitions to take another job."

"I want to be able to savor life while I am still relatively young, and when I am still relatively healthy enough to do all the things I want to do - like travel, spend more time with my family and grandchildren without the huge pressure that comes with being a football manager," Allardyce said in a statement from Crystal Palace.

"I simply want to be able to enjoy all the things you cannot really enjoy with the 24/7 demands of managing any football club, let alone one in the Premier League."

"Steve Parish has been superb during our conversations today. I know it came as a shock to him that I would walk away but our discussions have been incredibly civilised with no recriminations and no fall-out."

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"This is not about transfer targets, finances or anything along those lines. This is me taking the decision I believe is right for my family and myself."

"I would like to thank everybody for their messages of support since the news broke. I've no doubt I will miss management, but I certainly have no regrets at this decision."

He owns a 165-131-192 record in the Premier League, coaching at Bolton, Newcastle, Blackburn, West Ham, Sunderland and Crystal Palace.

Allardyce has never had a team relegated from the Premier League. His new deal is worth about $8 million annually, according to the Daily Express. Everton is currently ranked No. 17 in the Premier League. Sammy Lee and Craig Shakespeare will also join Allardyce at Everton, according to Sky Sports.

"Our fans demand to see total commitment and I've been telling the players we need to do more of that," Unsworth said of the club in early November, according to the team website. "We need to fight more - not physically but from a football point of view.

"We need our players to show what it means to wear that famous blue shirt. When you have a group of players willing to give everything for the cause, more often than not through my experience, there's success.

"I think there is a little bit of a confidence issue [with the players] but nothing that a couple of wins doesn't put right. I know that through my experience."

The Toffees host Huddersfield at 10 a.m. Saturday in a Premier League matchup at Goodison Park in Liverpool.