Everton have confirmed the return of legendary manager David Moyes following their new owners’ decision to sack Sean Dyche.
Moyes, 61, has signed a two-and-a-half-year deal and will see out the club’s days at their iconic home, Goodison Park, before leading them into their new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock in August. Everton’s new owners, the Friedkin Group, announced the sacking of Dyche on Thursday, just over three hours before their 2-0 win against Peterborough in the FA Cup.
Dyche’s tenure ended with a run of just one win in 11 games, with Moyes’ task to steer the Toffees away from the Premier League relegation zone and ensure their top-flight status ahead of moving into their new £800million stadium.
Moyes said: “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 this great club. I’m excited to be working with The Friedkin Group and I am looking forward to helping them rebuild the club. 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.”
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Toffees executive chairman Marc Watts said: “We are pleased that David is joining us at this pivotal time in Everton’s history. With over a decade of experience at the club, he is the right leader to propel us through our final season at Goodison Park and into our new stadium. We look forward to working with David to build the foundation of a new era for Everton.”
The Scot returns to management after leaving West Ham at the end of last season, having guided the London club to three consecutive years in Europe, as well as winning their first ever European trophy.
Moyes left Everton after 11 years to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United in 2013, only lasting 10 months. He then took over Spanish side Real Sociedad before returning to English football with Sunderland, who were relegated under his watch in 2017.
The ex-Celtic defender was hired by West Ham the following season and led the Irons to safety, although he was let go at the end of the campaign. West Ham came crawling back 18 months later, however, amid another relegation scrap and this time Moyes was given a much longer stay.
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David Moyes left Everton in 2013 before his ill-fated spell at Manchester United
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They finished sixth and seventh in his first two seasons, but Moyes’ finest hour came in 2023. West Ham beat Fiorentina 2-1 in the Conference League final, the first trophy of his career and one which ended West Ham’s 43-year wait to lift major silverware.
Moyes agreed to leave at the end of his contract in June 2024, being replaced by Spanish manager Julen Lopetegui, who this week was sacked and replaced by Graham Potter. He’s spent his time out of work as a television pundit, including for the BBC during their coverage of the European Championship last summer.
The 61-year-old was in talks to rejoin Everton in 2019, shortly before the Toffees appointed Carlo Ancelotti. “When I was being offered the West Ham job, I had actually been in Germany with Farhad Moshiri to take the Everton job,” Moyes revealed to beinSPORT.
David Moyes won the Conference League with West Ham in 2023
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“The phone rang, and it was David Sullivan – in the middle of the meeting with Everton. I had to say, ‘I can’t speak just now’. But Carlo Ancelotti was sacked by Napoli that night, and they changed tack, even though I was due to sign the day before – I had told David.
“But the next day Everton didn’t make more contact, so I phoned David and said, ‘If it’s still there’, and it couldn’t have gone better – it was the right choice.”
Moyes’ first game back at Everton will be on Wednesday, as the Toffees host Aston Villa in the Premier League They’ll then welcome Tottenham to Goodison next Sunday.
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