David Moyes has rejoined Premier League strugglers Everton almost a dozen years after walking out on the Merseyside club for a disastrous stint in charge of Manchester United.
The 61-year-old Scotsman has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract after Everton sacked Sean Dyche on Thursday.
Everton are 16th on the Premier League table, just a point above the relegation zone with only three wins in 19 matches this season.
“It’s great to be back! I enjoyed 11 wonderful and successful years at Everton and didn’t hesitate when I was offered the opportunity to rejoin,” Moyes said in a statement.
The former central defender left West Ham United at the end of the 2023-24 season after five years in charge at the London club over two spells.
“We are pleased that David is joining us at this pivotal time in Everton’s history,” Everton’s executive chairman Marc Watts said.
David Moyes was sacked as Manchester United manager after a 2-0 defeat to Everton in April 2014. (Getty Images: Clive Brunskill)
“We look forward to working with David to build the foundation of a new era for Everton.”
The Toffees move into a new stadium in Liverpool later this year after being taken over by the Friedkin Group last month.
In his previous stint in charge of Everton over more than a decade, they consistently finished between fifth and eighth in the Premier League and came fourth in the 2004-05 season, their best result since 1988.
They played in the qualifying rounds of the UEFA Champions League the following season, the first time they had appeared in Europe’s premier club competition since 1971.
And they were runners-up in the 2008-09 FA Cup, losing the final 2-1 to Chelsea, despite taking the lead in the first minute through French striker, Louis Saha.
David Moyes had an unsuccessful stint as manager of La Liga club, Real Sociedad in 2014-15. (Getty Images: Serrano Arce)
Although Moyes won praise for his pragmatic and effective style of play with Everton, he flopped when joining Manchester United for the 2013-14 season after the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson.
Despite signing a six-year contract, he lasted just 10 months, sacked after a 2-0 defeat to his former club at Goodison Park, earning a reported payout of 5 million pounds ($9.94 million).
It was the shortest Manchester United managerial stint in 82 years as Moyes earned criticism for his cautious and negative approach, which included calling arch-rivals Liverpool “favourites” ahead of a game at Old Trafford.
Everton are due to move into a new stadium from their beloved Goodison Park later this year. (Getty Images: Tony McArdle)
“Moyes never sounded or managed like a United manager,” wrote the Manchester Evening News. “United got an Everton manager, Everton coaches, an Everton player and achieved an Everton finish; seventh.”
After leaving Manchester United, Moyes had a one-year stint at Spanish club Real Sociedad before managing Sunderland during the 2016-17 season.
With Moyes back in charge, Everton will be looking to extend their 71-year run in the English top flight.
“I’m excited to be working with the Friedkin Group and I am looking forward to helping them rebuild the club,” Moyes said.
“Now we need Goodison and all Evertonians to play their part in getting behind the players in this important season so we can move into our fabulous new stadium as a Premier League team.”
Everton host Aston Villa in their next Premier League clash on Wednesday.
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