Dyche proud of achievements as he celebrates four years in charge

Four years ago yesterday, Sean Dyche was sat in the stands at the Cardiff City Stadium watching Burnley go down to a 4-0 defeat.
Sean DycheSean Dyche
Sean Dyche

Dyche was unveiled as boss three days later, and the rest is history.

Twice the Clarets have been promoted to the Premier League under Dyche's leadership, while the club has moved on exponentially on and off the pitch.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

And as he celebrates his fourth anniversary with a trip to Old Trafford to face Manchester United, he explained what he is most proud of achieving during his time in charge: "There’s some obvious things that have gone on, with the training ground and getting promoted twice.

"Behind that I’ve been really pleased with the work under that.

"Money brings a lot, we know that, but before the money came there was a lot of good things going on, I was really pleased with that.

"I was an even younger manager then, but I know in the first six or seven months when I was getting a fair bit of stick, I knew we were putting in good things, I knew the analysis was changing, I knew the way we working and the club was running was right."

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Burnley were dragged into a relegation battle after taking over the reins, winning four of the next 20 games after winning his first two matches in charge, but seven points from the last nine saw the Clarets finish 11th, seven points clear of the bottom three.

Dyche built on the foundations over the summer, adding Tom Heaton, David Jones and Scott Arfield, and despite having to sell top scorer Charlie Austin on the eve of the season, Burnley won automatic promotion behind Leicester City.

He admitted: "The first promotion was even surprising to me. I knew we’d be fine and we’d have a go at being around it, but that was like ‘wow’, we got on the roll and had people playing on top of their games. That was a really good start.

"Before that promotion season I thought there was some really good work going on and I’m really proud of that first six to seven months.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"It’s hard, when you’re getting stick and you getting called names and your kids at school and getting bullied - it’s hard.

"To see through that and know we are laying down some good bricks and mortar here to build for the future, that I’m very proud of."

Dyche was calm when Burnley were being sucked into trouble in that initial period, and added: "You're calm when you believe it’s right.

"If I’m not calm, that means I’m questioning myself, we’re not doing the things we need to do.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"But we were doing those things and I could go home every day and put my head on the pillow.

"As long as I know I’m giving the lot, doing things right and living by principles and morals I’ll sleep easily."

In four years, Dyche has moved up to become the eighth-longest serving manager in the Premier and Football League, and said: "It’s hard to be on that list. It’s the shifting sands of football, it’s as tough as it’s ever been.".