David Moyes is back at Everton, taking the helm as manager for the second time in his career. The 61-year-old Scot has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract at Goodison Park, replacing the recently sacked Sean Dyche.
Everton currently sit 16th in the Premier League, just one point above the relegation zone, having won only three of their 19 games this season. Moyes faces a significant challenge to turn their fortunes around.
“I enjoyed 11 wonderful and successful years at Everton and didn’t hesitate when I was offered the opportunity to rejoin this great club,” Moyes said upon his return.
He expressed his determination to guide the club to safety and into their new stadium as a Premier League team. “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.”
Moyes’ First Everton Era
Moyes previously managed Everton from 2002 to 2013, overseeing a period of relative success. He took over a team battling relegation and transformed them into a consistent top-half side, including a fourth-place finish in 2004-05 that secured Champions League qualification.
During his first spell, Moyes nurtured young talents like Wayne Rooney and made shrewd signings such as Tim Cahill and Marouane Fellaini.
A Mixed Bag Since Leaving Everton
Moyes’ career since leaving Everton has been a mixed bag. He endured a disappointing spell at Manchester United, where he was sacked after just 10 months. Spells at Real Sociedad and Sunderland followed, with mixed results, before he eventually returned to West Ham for a second time.
At West Ham, Moyes achieved success, guiding them to two top-seven finishes and winning the Europa Conference League in 2023. He left the club at the end of last season.
The Challenge Ahead
Moyes inherits an Everton side struggling for goals and confidence. Their attacking statistics this season are particularly concerning:
- They have scored fewer goals after 19 games than in all but three seasons in their history.
- Their expected goals (xG) of 18.33 is the lowest in the Premier League.
- They have the second-lowest number of shots on target in the league.
- Their average of 0.79 goals per game is their lowest in 13 seasons.
Moyes will need to address these issues quickly if he is to guide Everton away from the relegation zone and secure their Premier League status. His experience and previous success at the club will be crucial in this challenging task.
Discover more from
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.