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David Moyes: Rebuilding a damaged reputation
Liam Sheedy
Roar Guru
3rd November, 2015
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David Moyes, here in his Manchester United days, looks likely to lead Sunderland into the Championship. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas)
Liam Sheedy
Roar Guru
3rd November, 2015
15
2068 Reads

When David Moyes left Everton after managing the club for 11 years to take the Manchester United job it seemed to be met with mixed views from the football community.

Many pointed to the fact Moyes had failed to win a trophy in his time at Everton, wondering how Manchester United could appoint someone with his record to take over from Sir Alex Ferguson.

Others argued Moyes had done a brilliant job at Everton with limited resources, taking over a club in a relegation scrap and turning them into a consistent Premier League club.

Certainly many Everton fans felt the club had become stale under Moyes and a change was needed for both. Moyes did a great job in always convincing people that little old Everton were competing with the big teams and even convincing people that Everton were fortunate to have him.

Yet the separation from Everton has not been a positive one for Moyes.

Whoever took over from Ferguson was going to have a difficult time. Moyes initially signed a long-term contract but was sacked after only 10 months in charge, the third shortest managerial stint in Manchester United’s history.

The Moyes reign saw some unwanted history created during his tenure. West Brom, Newcastle and Everton picked up their first wins at Old Trafford in over 20 years. Stoke also enjoyed their first victory over United in 30 years.

Some felt Moyes should have been given more time but the win-loss ratio is always the most important in analysing performance. After a 2-0 loss to Everton, a result which meant United could not qualify for the Champions League sitting in seventh place on the table, the decision to sack Moyes was made official.

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The next move for Moyes was always going to be a very important one. It did not take long for him to be linked with struggling Premier League clubs.

Moyes took his time in accepting his next managerial position, obviously wary his reputation had taken a battering after his United experience. On November 10, 2014 Moyes signed on as manager of Real Sociedad in Spain. Many felt the move was a good opportunity for Moyes to rebuild his reputation in a different country.

Almost a year on, has the move paid dividends?

The answer unfortunately for Moyes is no. When Moyes took over Real Sociedad were sitting 15th on the table. Sociedad did show some improvement under Moyes, finishing the campaign in 12th, but the true test was always going to be how the 2015-16 campaign unfolded.

Unfortunately this season things have not gone according to plan. Real Sociedad currently find themselves with two wins out of 10 and sitting in 15th. The rumour mill is starting to gather pace that Moyes is under pressure to hold on to his job.

Most recently Moyes had been linked with the vacant Aston Villa job but that position has been filled by ex-Lyon boss Remi Garde.

So where to next for Moyes? He has given every indication he would one day like to return to managing in England. Moyes would be hoping, however, that it would be after a more successful experience in in La Liga.

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Who knows, he might hold onto his job and turn it around. But it shows how quickly things change in the world of football. Maybe life at little old Everton was not so bad after all.

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