Moyes returns to Everton: The highs and lows of his managerial career | OneFootball

David Moyes has returned to Everton more than 11 years after he left for Manchester United, taking over from Sean Dyche who was sacked by the club.

The Toffees sit 16th in the Premier League table and are struggling for goals, having only scored more than Southampton in the top flight this season.

After rejoining, Moyes said: “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 [new owners] 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.”

The 61-year-old faces a tough task to turn around a struggling team, with survival pivotal as they prepare to move into their new stadium next season.

But history certainly suggests he can do it. We look back at the pivotal moments of Moyes’ career, both good and bad…

Promotion with Preston

Moyes started his managerial career with Preston and worked wonders, taking over a struggling side and turning them into Division Two (now League One) champions and then reaching the First Division (now Championship) play-off final, but missing out on promotion to the Premier League with a defeat to Bolton.

Manager of the year with Everton

Moyes took the Everton job in 2002 and after guiding them to safety after taking over, then finished seventh in the Premier League in his first full season in charge and won the LMA Manager of the Year award for Everton’s marked improvement on the previous season.

Narrowly avoiding relegation

The following season would see Everton regress once again, however, with Moyes’ side finishing 17th in the Premier League. But the club’s board would stick by their manager, a decision which would pay off.

Qualifying for the Champions League

In the 2004-05 season, Moyes would surpass even the most optimistic of Everton fans’ hopes by guiding the club to fourth in the Premier League and qualifying for the Champions League.

Top-half consistency and FA Cup runners up

Everton reach the FA Cup final by beating Manchester United (Photo by Phil Cole/Getty Images) via ONE FOOTBALL

After a cycle of inconsistency with the club fluctuating between the top and the bottom of the league from season to season, Moyes found consistency with Everton and guided them to six consecutive top-half finishes from 2006 to 2012. They would also reach the FA Cup final in 2009, beating Manchester United in the semi-finals but losing to Chelsea at Wembley in the final.

Appointed Ferguson’s successor

David Moyes and Ryan Giggs (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) via ONE FOOTBALL

After 11-and-a-half years at Everton, Moyes was the man chosen to replace legendary Man Utd boss Sir Alex Ferguson in the Old Trafford dugout.

Sacked by Man Utd

Unfortunately Moyes’ time at the club would last just 10 months, and he was sacked by the club following a disappointing season with the side seventh in the league at the time of his departure.

Sacked by Real Sociedad

Lionel Messi shakes hands with Moyes (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images) via ONE FOOTBALL

Moyes next job marked a big change, heading to Spain to take over at Real Sociedad. Unfortunately it would not work out and he lasted just a year before being sacked following a poor start to the season.

Relegation with Sunderland

David Moyes while at Sunderland (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) via ONE FOOTBALL

He would return to the Premier League with Sunderland in 2016 but endured a torrid time at the club, overseeing relegation to the Championship before leaving the club.

Keeping West Ham up

Moyes would get another chance in the Premier League, however, being given a short-term contract to try and keep West Ham in the top flight with the team in the relegation zone at the time of him being appointed. He would achieve that task before leaving shortly after, but that would not be the end of his relationship with the club…

Record Premier League points tally for West Ham

After keeping them up again upon his return to the club, Moyes would go on to guide the Hammers to a club record Premier League points tally of 65 points and qualifying for the Europa League.

Europa League semi-final run and Conference League qualification

Moyes would then guide the club to the semi-finals of the Europa League, where they would lose to eventual winners Eintracht Frankfurt. They also finished seventh in the Premier League, qualifying for the Europa Conference League.

Winning the Conference League

Perhaps the high of Moyes’ managerial career, he guided West Ham to the Conference League trophy by beating Fiorentina in the final despite a disappointing Premier League campaign.

Return to Everton

After leaving West Ham in the summer of 2024, Moyes is back at Everton again. Will he be able to write more history?